Before the weekend started, outfielder Debbie Szalejko and her teammates were looking to get a sweep of Akron to solidify their chances at a top spot in the Mid-American Conference
tournament.
Now they're one of four teams vying for a chance just to get in it.
Ohio dropped both games of a key series with Akron, losing the first game 6-2 Saturday and the second 3-2 yesterday.
Szalejko said she knows her team is going to have to fight hard the rest of the way.
We aren't quite on the outside looking in
she said. Right now it is kind of a chicken fight for the last few spots.
Ohio's offense struggled against Akron in both games as they scored in just two of the 14 innings against the Zips and scored just four runs total.
First baseman Deanna Hartsough said that while she doesn't believe her team's offense is struggling, improvements could be made.
I think our offense is doing fine Hartsough said. There are things we can improve on but overall we are doing pretty good. I don't think it's a concern. We just need to execute.
The Bobcats (18-24, 7-7 MAC) took an early lead in the first game when third baseman Kristen Salvatore singled in pinch-runner Danielle Kelley in the first inning to put the Bobcats up 2-0. That would be the only time the Bobcats would lead for the rest of the series as the Zips roughed up pitcher Michelle Sauter for six runs to drop her record to 12-9 overall.
In the second game Ohio got within striking distance of Akron, then leading 3-0, when Hartsough took advantage of a rare start by getting a hit that scored pitcher Candace Saucedo and catcher Marian Davis. The 'Cats still lost for the sixth time in seven games when Szalejko grounded out with runners on first and second when a seventh-inning rally fell short.
I would say today was a tremendous effort, but we fell short, Coach Jill Matyuch said. Akron earned the win. We forced Akron to make plays and they made them.
Even though the losses dropped the Bobcats from third place to fifth place in the MAC East Division
Hartsough said the losses didn't hurt too much because she has confidence her team can bounce back.
I don't think they hurt us that bad, Hartsough said. It's going to make it more difficult, but we can battle back and win out the rest of the way.",",17,Archives,Matt O'Donnell,200704234266midsize.jpg,Ohio University's Candace Saucedo fires a pitch toward home last Wednesday during the Bobcats' doubleheader against Marshall.,",",",","
19641,2007-04-23 06:10:00,Softball: Bobcats fall to Zips
lose ground in MAC,",Before the weekend started
outfielder Debbie Szalejko and her teammates were looking to get a sweep of Akron to solidify their chances at a top spot in the Mid-American Conference
tournament.
Now they're one of four teams vying for a chance just to get in it.
Ohio dropped both games of a key series with Akron
losing the first game 6-2 Saturday and the second 3-2 yesterday.
Szalejko said she knows her team is going to have to fight hard the rest of the way.
We aren't quite on the outside looking in, she said. Right now it is kind of a chicken fight for the last few spots.
Ohio's offense struggled against Akron in both games as they scored in just two of the 14 innings against the Zips and scored just four runs total.
First baseman Deanna Hartsough said that while she doesn't believe her team's offense is struggling
improvements could be made.
I think our offense is doing fine, Hartsough said. There are things we can improve on, but overall we are doing pretty good. I don't think it's a concern. We just need to execute.
The Bobcats (18-24
7-7 MAC) took an early lead in the first game when third baseman Kristen Salvatore singled in pinch-runner Danielle Kelley in the first inning to put the Bobcats up 2-0. That would be the only time the Bobcats would lead for the rest of the series as the Zips roughed up pitcher Michelle Sauter for six runs to drop her record to 12-9 overall.
In the second game Ohio got within striking distance of Akron
then leading 3-0
when Hartsough took advantage of a rare start by getting a hit that scored pitcher Candace Saucedo and catcher Marian Davis. The 'Cats still lost for the sixth time in seven games when Szalejko grounded out with runners on first and second when a seventh-inning rally fell short.
I would say today was a tremendous effort
