Outfielder Kelly Rodriguez wanted to make it clear that even though the Bobcats looked happy during the small celebration had for soon-to-be-wed catcher Marian Davis after yesterday's doubleheader, the team was far from thrilled with what took place on the field earlier.
It definitely hurts
Rodriguez said after Ohio fell 7-2 and 11-3 in yesterday's doubleheader against Marshall (25-22) at the Ohio Softball Field. I'm glad we don't appear that it fazed us but it hurts.
Rodriguez belted a home run in both ends of the doubleheader, but it wasn't nearly enough, as Marshall hit almost everything the Bobcats threw at them.
We didn't have an answer for their offense today coach Jill Matyuch said.
The Bobcats (18-22, 7-5 Mid-American Conference) hung within striking distance of the Thundering Herd until the fifth inning of game one, when Marshall used a solo home run and two other hits to rough up pitcher Michelle Sauter for four runs to extend a one-run lead to five.
Rodriguez's first home run of the day in the bottom of the sixth cut the lead to 6-2, but there would be nothing more from the offense the rest of the way.
Things have just been going good for me at the plate
said Rodriguez, who leads the team in both home runs and RBIs. I try not to think as much and do what I know what to do.
Marshall's strong hitting carried over into game two and got even stronger. This time, it was Natalie Armstrong who felt the brunt of the Thundering Herd's bats, which knocked her out of the game before Ohio's offense had even put a runner on base. When outfielder Debbie Szalejko reached first base with a single in the fourth, the Bobcats were already down six runs.
Matyuch said that when the team falls behind by a large margin, the offense is limited in what it can do at the plate.
You can't play your small ball like you'd like to
she said. It does change your mindset.
Rodriguez's second home run of the day, a two-run shot to left center, brought the Bobcats within four in the bottom of the fourth, but five Thundering Herd runs in the top of the sixth put the game well out of reach.
With two games they would like to forget in the past, the Bobcats now can shift their focus to Akron, their opponent in two games this weekend. As for Davis, who is getting married today, she will be a day behind before she thinks about the Zips.
Tomorrow
Davis said yesterday after being showered with bubbles blown by her teammates, I will be completely focused on my wedding.
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Andrew Gribble
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