In a season when many second-year players are apt to experience a sophomore slump
pitcher Michelle Sauter has done just the opposite.
After a strong freshman campaign in which she led the Bobcats in wins, Sauter has established herself not only as the team's ace, but as one of the most dominating pitchers in the Mid-American Conference.
I was hoping to come in with a better start than last year Sauter said, and so far it's been really nice.
It has been nice indeed for the sophomore hurler, as she sits fourth in the MAC with a 1.37 ERA and continues her winning ways, leading the team with seven wins. She also has been the team's workhorse with 92 1/3 innings pitched, which is 39 1/3 more innings pitched than Ohio's second-most used hurler, Candace Warden.
Coach Jill Matyuch said that as long as Sauter continues to thrive, she will continue to get the ball the most.
Right now she's obviously enjoyed the most success
Matyuch said, so we're going to ride that for as long as we can.
Sauter said she owes her strong start to more confidence in herself and the players around her.
I just have more confidence in everything this year
Sauter said. Last year I wasn't really confident in my pitches
but this year I'm more confident with them and my defense. I know even if the other team hits the ball
they'll make the plays.
Although Sauter's different, volatile pitches directly have contributed to her league-leading statistics, fellow sophomore pitcher Zoe Heim said Sauter's tenacity on the mound is what makes her unique from other star pitchers.
She's got a bite to her
Heim said. She's really intense and you know that her emotions are consistent on the mound.
Sauter's dominance on the hill has been noticed by more than just her coach and teammates as she notched her first ever MAC East Pitcher of the Week award for her strong performance during Ohio University's spring break. Sauter went 3-1 in 25 2/3 innings of work, collecting two of her team leading five complete games over the stretch.
What Sauter will most be remembered for during the break, however, is the career performance she had in the lone loss against Vermont.
Not necessarily known to be a strikeout pitcher, Sauter wrote her name into the Bobcat record books, striking out a career-high 16 Catamounts in nine innings of work in a heartbreaking 2-1 loss. The 16 strikeouts were the most a Bobcat pitcher has thrown in one game since Heather Hagan struck out 15 Akron batters March 29, 2002.
However, don't expect Sauter to be satisfied with her record-breaking performance. Only one week after the game against Vermont, she set another, more personal achievement when she collected her first career complete-game shutout Friday at Miami.
I just want to get better each and every year
Sauter said, and not be content with what I have done previously.
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