Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Ohio
Softball Drops a Pair of MAC Contests to Ohio
4/16/2010 6:43:34 PM | Softball
Bobcats win games 11-2 and 6-1 in Mid-American Conference action at Varsity Field
Box score: Game 1. Game 2.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University softball team dropped both games of a Mid-American Conference doubleheader, 11-2 and 6-1, to Ohio University here Friday afternoon, April 16, at Varsity Field. The Bobcats used timely offense and stifling pitching in the pair of come-from-behind victories. With the two losses, EMU moves to 13-22 (3-7 MAC) on the season.
In the first contest, both pitchers cruised through the opening two innings, allowing just one hit.
EMU threatened in the bottom on the third when Jessica Patterson (Ionia, Mich.-Ionia) led off the frame with a single to left field before a walk and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with two out. The Bobcats would escape though when Sarah Gerber (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) grounded out on a 3-1 pitch to end the jam.
However, the Green and White were able to get on the scoreboard first with Nellie Coquillard (Niles, Mich.-Niles) driving an 0-2 offering over the right field wall for her third home run of the season.
Things remained quiet until the top of the fifth when the Bobcats exploded for seven runs top jump ahead by a 7-1 tally. Eastern utilized four pitching changes before finally recording its first out of the stanza. The big blow of the inning was a three-run double by Emily Wethington, as the first seven batters of the inning reached base safely.
Ohio tacked on four more runs in the seventh en route to cruising to the 11-2 decision. Junior Jamie Melchert (Scottville, Mich.-Mason County Central) was charged with the loss in 6.1 innings of work to move her record to 4-9. Melchert gave up six runs on eight hits while striking out three Ohio batters.
In the nightcap, a Gerber double in the bottom of the first scored Katy Blaharski (Carleton, Mich.-Airport) to give Eastern the quick 1-0 edge. EMU had another scoring opportunity in the second, but miscues on the base paths cost the Eagles when Jenny Scherer (Stow, Ohio-Stow-Munroe) was thrown out at home and Patterson at second base on the safety squeeze.
That proved costly when Ohio knotted the score at 1-1 and would take a 4-1 advantage when Wethington clubbed a three-run home run to left. All the scoring came after EMU had already collected two outs in the stanza. Cario would eventually get out of the bases-loaded jam with a strikeout of Candace Saucedo.
Ohio added a pair of runs in the fourth to up the margin to five, 6-1, with EMU unable to get any closer the rest of the way. Junior pitcher Jaclyn Caro (Chino, Calif.-St. Lucy's Priory) pitched 4.1 innings, giving up six runs on seven hits.
The Eagles will remain at home this weekend as the University of Akron invades Ypsilanti. The two teams will square off Saturday, April 17, at 2 p.m. and Sunday, April 18, at 1 p.m.
