Despite being dominant in spurts, the Ohio softball team's record still hovers near .500 at 15-15 after 16 spring break contests.
After dropping two contests during the second day of the Speedline Invitational in Tampa, Fla., the Bobcats played their most dominant softball of the season, leading to a season-high, five-game winning streak.
We were definitely clicking on all cylinders
coach Jill Matyuch said. It was very fun to see the team playing so well.
Ohio used single-inning offensive outbursts to begin its winning streak and concluded the Speedline Invitational with dominating victories over Dartmouth and Buffalo.
The Bobcats set a new season-high with a six-run outburst in the first inning of its 6-1 victory over Dartmouth. Second baseman Alicia Catlette collected her first collegiate home run when she knocked in leadoff hitter Debbie Szalejko to kick start an inning in which the Bobcats sent all nine batters to the plate.
The Bobcats' season-high for runs in an inning lasted only a couple hours, however, after nine Bobcat runners crossed home plate in the second inning of the Bobcats' 13-4 rout of Buffalo.
After its strong finish in Tampa, the Bobcats combined its surging offense with dominant pitching, leading to three consecutive shutouts to kick off the Rebel Games in Orlando, Fla.
Candace Warden and Natalie Armstrong anchored the Bobcats in the first day of the tournament, both throwing complete-game shutouts while the Bobcats' offense continued its dominance in a 9-0 drubbing of Dartmouth and an 8-0 victory over Vermont.
Michelle Sauter helped the team collect its third consecutive shutout, throwing five scoreless innings and striking out four in a 7-0 victory over Cornell. The shutout marked the first time since 1999 that the Bobcats shut out three consecutive opponents.
Despite ending the Rebel Games on a sour note with three straight losses, the Bobcats got one of its most dominant pitching performances in team history in its 2-1, extra-inning loss to Vermont.
Sauter pitched all nine innings, striking out a career-high 16 batters, while allowing only one earned run. The 16 strikeouts in one contest are the most for a Bobcat since Heather Hagan struck out 15 batters in a 2002 game against Akron.
It was definitely fun to watch her pitch Matyuch said of Sauter's performance. You could see her confidence building after every inning.
The Bobcats return to action Tuesday when they travel to Wright State for a doubleheader. The first game is scheduled for 2 p.m. with a tentative start time of 4 p.m. for the second contest.
- Andy Gribble
17
Archives
Andy Gribble
