The Ohio softball team stayed busy over spring break, competing in 12 games in four states.
The Bobcats entered their March 15 contest against Fairfield at the Winthrop Adidas Invitational in Rock Hill, S.C., with a 5-6 record. They won against Fairfield 13-4 but lost to Albany 2-1 in eight innings.
The team then traveled to the Cavalier Classic in Charlottesville, Va., where they won three games against Georgetown, Rutgers and Virginia and lost to Radford.
The final two games of non-conference play were against Wright State and resulted in another split, upping Ohio's record to 10-9 before facing Mid-American conference opponents.
Coach Jill Matyuch said the team was ready for Conference opponents.
I would have liked to have gotten more games in but I think we are sufficiently prepared
Maytuch said. I think we are playing really good softball at times ... I think when we come ready to compete in terms of focus we are a really good softball team.
Conference games began with a trip to Ball State. Ohio won both games, taking a 10-6 win in the first game and blanking the Cardinals 2-0 in the second game.
Ohio's batting average leader, freshman Jordan Paden, went 4-for-4 in the first game with three hits and an RBI. She is batting .367 on the season.
Freshman pitcher Emily Wethington pitched the entire game and recorded her team-high seventh win in the shutout, striking out six batters. Senior Michelle Sauter picked up the win in the first game.
Ohio's good fortunes didn't last, however, as they dropped both games of a doubleheader at Miami Saturday, 2-1 and 5-2.
Miami led the game 2-0 going into the seventh inning. Shalene Petrich scored off a sacrifice bunt from Maureen McKelvey but Ohio failed to score any more.
In game two, Paden scored off a Kristen Salvatore sacrifice fly, which put the Bobcats up 1-0 until the fifth inning when Miami tied the score and Christine Bills hit a grand slam to give the RedHawks a 5-1 lead. Wethington notched her team-best second home run of the season to put the score at 5-2, but it was not enough.
We really have three newcomers who have really established themselves right away in Jordan Paden
Melissa Bonner and Emily Wethington
Matyuch said. They have been phenomenal. They are only going to get better with experience.
Ohio's head is still above water with a 12-11 record (2-2 MAC) after the two losses in Oxford.
The Bobcats will begin a six-game home stretch Wednesday when they take on non-conference opponent Dayton at the Ohio Softball Field.
17
Archives
Michelle Munoz
200803317472midsize.jpeg
Ohio shortstop Amanda Sacks outs Wright State's Jherica Williams in the Bobcat's first game of a doubleheader last April at the Ohio Softball Field. The Bobcats will host Dayton for a doubleheader Wednesday.
