March 31, 2012
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
ATHENS, Ohio - Ohio Softball hosted the Toledo Rockets on Saturday afternoon but it was the Bobcats who possessed all of the firepower, as Ohio defeated Toledo by a final score of 15-1. The Ohio offense exploded for 10 hits in the victory, as 25 Bobcat batters made their way to the plate in only five innings of play.
Alexandria Basquez (Elk Grove, Calif.) led the way for the Green and White, belting two home runs and driving in five runs. The sophomore was one of four Bobcats who collected at least two hits on the day. Ohio registered 10 hits in its 25 at-bats on Saturday, hitting .400 on the day.
The 15-run outburst marked the fourth time this season that Ohio (13-15, 2-1 MAC) has scored ten or more runs in a single game.
Lauren McClary (Pasadena, Texas) had an impressive day in the pitching circle, picking up her seventh win of the season going five innings and only allowing two hits and no earned runs. The freshman didn't walk a single batter and threw nine strikeouts on the afternoon, registering the 100th of her season and career.
Ohio got things started right away, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a commanding lead. Jillian Van Wagnen (Lorain, Ohio) registered a leadoff single up the middle and stole second to get things going. Brooke Morgart (Wayne, Ohio) reached on an error on the next play and later stole second as well. Alexis Joseph (Alvin, Texas) singled to right center, bringing Van Wagnen across the dish. A single by Lauren Gellerman (San Diego, Calif.) then brought in another run before Basquez blasted a three-run home run to left center.
The Rockets (9-20, 2-1 MAC) went down in order in the second inning. McClary was on fire right from the start, ultimately retiring the first eight batters she faced.
The Bobcats all but put the game away in the bottom of the second inning, scoring nine runs to pull out to a 14-0 lead. Morgart drove in the first run of the frame, doubling to centerfield to bring Van Wagnen around. A single by Raven King (Alpine, Utah) and a walk by Gellerman then loaded the bases. Basquez then blasted a sharp shot which the first baseman wasn't able to field, bringing in two more runs. The Bobcats benefited from a few walks during the inning and then scored two more runs when Van Wagnen singled through the right side. A few plays later, Morgart drove in her second and third runs of the afternoon (and inning), singling up the middle. With the bases loaded and two outs, pinch hitter Adrienne Gabele (Annapolis, Md.) nearly drove in four more but her deep shot to center field fell just a few feet shy of clearing the fence.
Toledo got on the board in the top of the third inning when the Rockets smartly executed a double steal, sending Alyssa Smith to second and Brooke Gates home. McClary then shut the door on Toledo, retiring seven of the next eight batters to end any hope of a comeback.
Ohio scored its 15th and final run of the afternoon in the bottom of the third inning when Basquez blasted a no-doubter over the left field fence and halfway up the roof of the adjacent batting cage structure.
The Bobcats will next be in action on Sunday when they host the Rockets at the Ohio Softball Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
