April 30, 2011
Game 1 Final Stats | Game 2 Final Stats
KENT, Ohio - Senior Melissa Bonner (Kings Mills, Ohio) hit two home runs and Alexandria Basquez (Elk Grove, Calif.) launched her first collegiate home run as the Ohio softball team rallied for a split at Kent State in a Mid-American Conference (MAC) doubleheader on Saturday. All three home runs came in game two, a 7-3 win for the Bobcats. Ohio dropped the first game 9-7.
For the day, Ohio (20-20, 9-7 MAC) was led by Bonner who went 6-for-8 at the plate with four runs scored, four RBIs and two home runs in game two. Senior Paige Kemezis (Hackensack, N.J.) was 5-for-8 on the day with three runs and two RBIs. She hit her fourth home run of the season in game one. Classmate Emily Wethington (New Palestine, Ind.) was 3-for-4 with two runs scored in game one, and hurled her 13th complete game of the season in game two. Wethington fanned 10 batters and did not allow an earned run in game two.
Wethington now stands at 16-9 in the circle this season after she suffered the loss in game one and got the win in game two.
After Kent State (18-26, 8-7 MAC) took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first with three unearned runs, the Bobcats cut the deficit to one on a two-out, two-run home run to center field by Bonner in the top of the third. Kemezis doubled one batter earlier to get Bonner to the plate.
In the fifth, Ohio claimed a 4-3 lead on a two-RBI single by senior Sara Clark (Ontario, Calif.) that scored junior Alexis Joseph (Alvin, Texas) and Bonner. The Bobcats added to their lead in the sixth as Basquez started the frame off with a solo shot to left field. After two outs were recorded, Kemezis singled to center and Bonner followed it up with a two-run home run to center field. Following Bonner's second shot of the day, Ohio led 7-3.
Kemezis hit a two-run home run in the top of the first of game one. After Joseph led the game off with a walk, Kemezis drove a ball over the left field fence to give Ohio a 2-0 lead after a half inning.
Kent State tallied five runs in its half of the first, and never trailed from that point forward. The first five Golden Flashes reached base and a bases loaded double by Shannon Laughlin scored two runs, while Beth Cinadr hit a three-run home run to give Kent State a 5-2 advantage.
Ohio got as close as one run on two instances. The Bobcats cut the deficit to 5-4 in the third after Clark hit an RBI single up the middle and freshman Raven King (Alpine, Utah) drew a bases loaded walk. Clark's base hit scored senior Bonner, while King's walk plated senior Wethington.
After Kent scored three runs in the fourth to make the score 8-4, Ohio scored three runs of its own in the top of the fifth. Four straight batters reached base for the Bobcats, which included base hits from Wethinton and sophomore Lauren Gellerman (San Diego, Calif.). The inning culminated in a bases loaded walk from King, her second of the game, and a sacrifice fly by Basquez. After the top of the fifth, the Bobcats trailed 8-7.
The Golden Flashes tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth.
Ohio will conclude the regular season next weekend at Bowling Green and Toledo. The Bobcats will take on the Falcons in a doubleheader on Friday, May 6 at 1 p.m., and take on the Rockets in a weekend series on Saturday and Sunday.
