With her first swing of the game, pinch-hitter Cathy Walters turned what looked to be just another Bobcat scare into the biggest upset of the season.
The right-handed utility player launched a two-run home run over the left field wall in the bottom of the fourth inning to give Ohio a lead it would never relinquish in its 3-1 victory over No. 24-ranked Virginia Tech in the second half of yesterday's doubleheader.
We've put her in that situation a number of times this year
coach Jill Matyuch said. Sometimes she's come up big but not that big.
Walters said that facing Virginia Tech pitcher Angela Tincher in the first game of the doubleheader helped her know what she would see on the first pitch.
I was able to see her bread-and-butter pitch in the first game and I saw that she was throwing a lot of first-pitch strikes
she said. So I just knew she was going to bring it. I just took advantage of it and put a lot of motion into my back and shoulders.
Pitcher Candace Warden held the Hokies' bats at bay, allowing just one run on two hits in her third complete game of the season.
I definitely think it was my best effort of the season
Warden said. We knew it was going to be a battle and it was going to come down to who could make things happen.
Walters' and Warden's heroics spoiled the efforts of USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year finalist Tincher. Tincher held Ohio to seven hits and struck out 14 Bobcats only to pick up her fourth loss of the season.
Game 1 of the doubleheader did not end so sweetly for the Bobcats.
After falling behind, 4-0, Ohio rallied for single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to make the score 4-2 going into their final at-bats.
The Bobcats loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh before collecting a single out, poising themselves for a comeback victory. After plunking first baseman Robin Miller to make the score 4-3, Tincher, who relieved starter Katie Maynard, struck out three straight Bobcats to preserve the victory.
Despite the tough loss in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader, Matyuch said that she was proud of the team's efforts for the entire day.
Virginia Tech is ranked 24th
so it shows a lot for our players to come out and play as well as they did for both games
Matyuch said. All three pitchers threw phenomenally
our bats showed up when they needed to
and we played solid defensively.
Ohio will be back in action Friday when they take on Mid-American Conference rival Kent State. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m. at the Ohio Softball Field.
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