April 1, 2012
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
ATHENS, Ohio - Ohio Softball kept up its strong play on Sunday, picking up its third consecutive Mid-American Conference win by defeating the visiting Toledo Rockets by a final score of 4-3. Freshman pitcher Lauren McClary picked up her second win in as many days, throwing six innings and allowing three runs.
Kaylin Clarke (North Royalton, Ohio) came on in relief in the seventh inning, pitching out of a jam to pick up her first save of the season. The freshman faced three batters and set them all down, striking out two.
Jenna Giusti (Danville, Calif.) had a huge day for the Green and White, driving in all four of the team's runs.
The teams traded scoreless first frames, with each pitcher getting through the inning with relative ease. Toledo (9-21, 2-2 MAC) was able to score first, plating a run in the top of the second inning when Morgan Smith blasted a two-out home run to left center field to give her side an early 1-0 lead.
Toledo threatened in the top of the fourth inning, getting a runner on first with no outs. McClary (Pasadena, Texas) was able to get out of this jam, forcing Lindsey Tobias to hit into a double play. She lined out to Brooke Morgart at second base who quickly threw over to first to catch the runner before she could get back. Leigh Nebendahl then fouled out to third base on the ensuing at-bat, ending the threat.
Ohio (14-15, 3-1 MAC) loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning, putting Chelsea Hortman (Cincinnati, Ohio) to bat with three runners on and one out. After Hortman popped up to the shortstop, Giusti came through in the clutch, belting a two-run single through the left side of the infield to give the `Cats a 2-1 lead.
The Bobcats would expand this lead as far as 4-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, again off the bat of Giusti. With two outs and runners on second and third, the junior blasted a sharp shot to left field. Toledo's Alyssa Smith was unable to come up with it, dropping what would have been the third out of the inning and allowing Alyssa Wolfe (Junction City, Ohio) and Raven King (Alpine, Utah) to come around and score.
Toledo nearly came back in the top of the seventh inning, hitting a two-run home run to pull within one run. Clarke came on in relief of McClary at this point, setting down the next three batters to earn the save.
Ohio 4, Toledo 3
WP: Lauren McClary (8-8)
LP: Casi Rohr (4-11)
S: Kaylin Clarke (1)
HR: Leigh Nebendahl (1), Morgan Smith (2)
The Bobcats will next be in action on Friday, April 6. Ohio will play a doubleheader at Ball State beginning at 1 p.m.
