Feb. 18, 2012
Box Score (Game One) | Box Score (Game Two)
BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Ohio Softball finished competition at the 2012 Hampton Inn Invitational on Saturday, dropping its final two games of the tournament. The Bobcats narrowly lost the two games by a combined two runs, falling 1-0 to Robert Morris and 3-2 to Towson.
Ohio's Jillian Van Wagnen (Lorain, Ohio) was named to the All-Tournament Team for her efforts throughout the competition. The senior hit .444 (4-for-9) throughout the weekend, scoring two runs and adding one RBI.
Alexis Joseph (Alvin, Texas) helped lead Ohio's offense on Saturday, blasting two hits in the two games. Raven King, Chelsea Hortman, Jenna Giusti, Caitlin Colvin and Lauren Gellerman also each added a hit of their own to Ohio's efforts.
Ohio (4-4) and Robert Morris battled a defensive duel in the first game of the day, as neither side threatened to score until the later innings. Lauren McClary got the start for the Bobcats, pitching 6.2 innings and only allowing four hits in the process. The freshman retired six of the first seven batters she faced.
Joseph got the `Cats off to a strong start, hitting a single to the left side of the infield in Ohio's first at-bat of the game. This was Ohio's last hit until Giusti's single in the fifth inning, however, as Nicole Sleith pitched a very strong game.
With two outs in the top of the sixth, Robert Morris scored the first run of the day. Tess Apke hit a McClary pitch out of the park, breaking the deadlock and giving the Colonials a 1-0 lead. Ohio nearly mounted a rally in the bottom of the inning when Hortman singled up the middle but Sleith was able to get the rest of the side out.
Ohio 0, Robert Morris 1
WP: Nicole Sleith (3-0)
LP: Lauren McClary (2-2)
HR: Tess Apke
The Green and White got off to a fast start in the second game of the day, leaping out to a 1-0 lead in just the first inning. Brooke Morgart (Wayne, Ohio) showed strong discipline at the plate and walked with one out. She then advanced to second when Gellerman grounded out to first base. Morgart was then able to score when Hortman got on base thanks to a fielding error by the left fielder.
Ohio extended its lead in the top of the fourth inning, going up 2-0 when Colvin fouled out to left field with Erin Lashley (Pickerington, Ohio) on third. Lashley scampered home on the sacrifice.
Towson was able to break up Colvin's strong performance in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring three quick runs. Stef Polonia began the run by singling to third base. She then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Erika Stasch got Towson on the board, doubling to left field to score the team's first run. A single by Lindsey Kent drove in another run and a Courtney Wittner walk with two outs drove in the final run of the day.
Ohio 2, Towson 3
WP: Katie Lingmai (1-0)
LP: Kaylin Clarke (1-2)
HR: None
The Bobcats will next be in action on Friday, Feb. 24 when they begin play at the Virginia Cavalier Invitational. During the three-day tournament, Ohio will compete with Virginia, Colgate and Saint Joseph's.
