University of Toledo
OHIO
Rocket Softball Swept by Bobcats
4/6/2001 12:00:00 PM | Softball
Toledo, OH - The University of Toledo softball team was swept in a MAC double header by Ohio University, 8-4 and 6-1, Friday at Scott Park. With the pair of losses, the Rockets fall to 13-17 (1-6 MAC), while the Bobcats improve to 23-11 (8-1 MAC).
"These are definitely two discouraging losses," Toledo Head Coach Michelle Fagnant said. "We are the point in the season now where we need to re-evaluate ourselves and one another."
The Rockets were limited to a combined nine hits in the afternoon twinbill.
In the first game, OU got on the board in the opening frame on a sacrifice fly to right field by Tiffany Bolton.
Toledo knotted the score at 1-1 in the fourth on a two-out double to right center by senior pitcher Kristy Kassotis, scoring sophomore shortstop Deanna House from second.
Ohio regained the lead in the fifth plating three runs off Kassotis on the strength of four-consecutive base hits and a hit bats men.
UT would not go lightly, as they tied the score at 4-4 in the sixth on just one hit and the benefit of two Ohio errors. Toledo cut the lead in half on sophomore Jenny Schaaf's team-leading third home run of the season to left center. Then with freshman Mary Freese pinch running for Kassotis, fellow freshman Natalie Begalle hit a ground ball to third that OU's Kelli Bankert promptly threw away allowing Freese to come around and score all the way from first. Begalle then scored on a passball to tie the score.
OU quickly responded and reclaimed the lead for good in the top of the seventh, scoring four runs, three of which were unearned, as a result of two Toledo errors.
Kassotis (4-7) went the distance for UT in the opening game and was tagged with the loss. She surrendered the nine OU runs on 12 base hits and struck out six. Ohio reliever Valerie Wood pitched the final inning-and-a-third to earn the win and improve to 11-2 on the season.
In the second game, the Bobcats again struck in the opening inning scoring a single run on a ground out to the shortstop plating Crystal Turner, who led off the game with a triple to right field.
OU increased its lead to 2-0 in the second as the Bobcats scored a run on a Colette McMasters wild pitch.
The Bobcats again pushed the lead, this time to 4-0 in the fifth on a two-run single by Crystal Turner.
Toledo had a golden opportunity to cut into the lead in the bottom of the fifth as the Rockets scattered four hits, but were able to salvage only one run on an RBI single to left field by sophomore catcher Tiffany Edgar. UT had two runners cut down at home by the Ohio right fielder, Erin Chapman in the inning.
OU put two more runs on the board in the seventh to make the final, 6-1.
Rocket starter Colette McMasters (5-7) took the loss, while OU starter Kristie Howe went the first five innings to earn the win and improve to 2-0 on the season. Wood threw a perfect final two innings to pick up her sixth save of the 2001 campaign.
Toledo will return to action tomorrow with a twinbill against the Thundering Herd of Marshall. The first pitch at Scott Park is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
