May 3, 2008

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ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio softball team clinched a berth into the Mid-American Conference Tournament with an 8-0 win over Toledo Saturday afternoon at the Ohio Softball Field.

In the bottom of the fifth inning and Ohio leading 5-0, senior Maureen McKelvey (Stow, Ohio) hit a three-run homer over the left field wall for the shutout win. McKelvey finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBI.

With the win the Bobcats improve to a 25-23, 10-11 MAC record, while the Rockets fall to 15-28, 4-15 MAC overall.

Ohio scored eight runs on nine hits and an error, while allowing the Rockets three hits. Senior Courtney Waters (Eagle River, Alaska) and freshman Melissa Bonner (Kings Mills, Ohio) both went 2-for-3 in the game and scored two runs apiece. Bonner also had two RBI.

Senior Michelle Sauter (Chehalis, Wash.) became Ohio's all-time leader in career wins. Sauter struck out four batters in the complete-game victory, while Toledo's Hannah Rockhold was charged with the loss.

The Bobcats started the momentum early by scoring three runs in the opening stanza. Waters led the inning off with a single to center field and sophomore Shalene Petrich (Chehalis, Wash.) followed with another single. Bonner then doubled to right center to score both Waters and Petrich. Bonner then scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Kristen Salvatore (Kirtland, Ohio).

Ohio scored two more runs in its half of the second inning. Freshman Jordan Paden (Walla Walla, Wash.) was hit by a pitch before Waters doubled to send her to third. A two-RBI single by sophomore Deanna Hartsough (Santa Ana, Calif.),two at-bats later, scored Paden and Waters to push Ohio's lead to 5-0.

The Bobcats will wrap up the regular season tomorrow against the Rockets at 1 p.m. on Senior and Alumni Day.