March 4, 2012
Box Score
ATHENS, Ga. - Ohio Softball finished the third day at the 2012 Bulldog Invitational in fine fashion, handily defeating the Cleveland State Vikings in five innings by a final score of 9-0. The Bobcats finished the tournament with a 2-3 mark, playing against some very solid competition over the weekend.
Freshman pitcher Lauren McClary (Pasadena, Texas) threw her second no-hitter of the weekend, shutting down the Viking bats in short order. She was aided by a very balanced offensive effort from her teammates, as six different Bobcats registered one hit on the afternoon. Chelsea Hortman and Jenna Giusti (Danville, Calif.) really made theirs count, each blasting one home run.
Ohio (8-9) got things going in the second inning, scoring four runs to leap out to an early lead. Alexandria Basquez (Elk Grove, Calif.) got it started with a single up the middle. Raven King (Alpine, Utah) followed her act immediately thereafter with a single of her own. Adrienne Gebele then walked to load the bases. With no outs, Giusti stepped up to the plate and belted a grand slam to left field.
McClary retired the next three batters she faced in the bottom of the frame to keep the momentum on Ohio's side.
The `Cats added three more runs in the top of the third inning to push their advantage to 7-0. Brooke Morgart (Wayne, Ohio) started things off with a single to left center and was joined on the base paths by Hortman (Cincinnati, Ohio) following an early-inning walk. Morgart was able to score a few plays later on a passed ball before King and Hortman were driven home by a two-RBI double off the bat of Gebele (Annapolis, Md.).
Ohio then added two more runs in the top of the fourth to put the game out of reach. Morgart walked with one out and Hortman blasted a home run to left center, driving in two more to make it 9-0.
Ohio 9, Cleveland State 0 (Five Innings)
WP: Lauren McClary (4-5)
LP: Megan Bashak (1-7)
HR: Chelsea Hortman (3), Jenna Giusti (1)
The Bobcats will next be in action on Mar. 17 when they travel to play in the 2012 Charleston Southern Tournament. At this two-day event, the Bobcats will play twice against both Longwood and host Charleston Southern.
