Feb. 25, 2012
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - Coming through in the clutch on Saturday afternoon, Ohio Softball earned a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Colgate on the second day of the 2012 University of Virginia Invitational. Ohio showed great resilience on the diamond, battling back from a late deficit to earn the win.
Caitlin Colvin (Bonney Lake, Wash.) was the pitcher of record for Ohio, picking up her second win of the season. The junior threw three innings of three-hit softball, not allowing a single run while striking out three hitters and only walking one. She was helped on the offensive end by some adept baserunning from senior Jillian Van Wagnen (Lorain, Ohio), who stole two bases on two attempts.
Lauren McClary (Pasadena, Texas) got things started on the mound for the Bobcats, pitching a scoreless first three innings. The freshman allowed two runners to get on base in the first inning before completely shutting down the side in the second. She then experienced some slight trouble in the bottom of the third inning with a leadoff walk but was then able to shut the door on the Raiders, refusing to allow them to score.
Ohio (5-6) was able to find the scoreboard first, taking a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Erin Lashley (Pickerington, Ohio) struck a leadoff single to the left side of the infield to get the inning started. Van Wagnen followed this up with a double up the middle, advancing her teammate to third. Alexis Joseph (Alvin, Texas) drove Lashley in on the next play, grounding out to first base.
The `Cats were able to add one more run to their tally when Lauren Gellerman (San Diego, Calif.) blasted a solo home run to left center. Gellerman's bomb was her first of the season and put her team up 2-0.
Colgate was able to level the scores at two apiece in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Tera Vaughn blasted a double up the middle to drive in two runs. McClary was able to retire the side following this hit, getting Alana Dyson to ground out to second base.
The Raiders then took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning when a double by Emmie Dolfi drove in another run, making it 3-2.
Ohio refused to give up on this game and scored a run in each the six and seventh innings to earn the victory. With two outs in the top of the sixth, Gellerman began a rally by singling through the left side of the infield. Raven King (Alpine, Utah) advanced her to second with a single of her own before Gellerman eventually worked her way to third. The junior was then able to tie the score by crossing the plate on a passed ball.
Van Wagnen then walked in the top of the seventh inning and was a demon on the basepaths, stealing second and third before finally scoring the winning run on a throwing error by the catcher.
Ohio 4, Colgate 3
WP: Caitlin Colvin (2-1)
LP: Courtney O'Connell (0-2)
HR: Lauren Gellerman (1)
Ohio's second game of the day, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. against Saint Joseph's, was cancelled due to extreme cold and wind.
The Bobcats will next be in action on Sunday, taking on the same Colgate Raiders at 10 a.m.
