Bobcats stun highly ranked Wolverines

by Bill Bender
THE POST

Hail to the victor's valiant, hail to the conquering hero, hail to the Bobcats.

Ohio (16-25, 8-10 in the Mid-American Conference) shocked No.13 Michigan (38-13-1) yesterday, sweeping both games of a doubleheader. The Bobcats shaved the Wolverines 3-2 in the second game after working extra innings to win the first game 1-0.

Ohio wasted no time attacking in the second game. Catcher Jen Sewell lined a double down the left field line, scoring third baseman Kelli Bankert in the first inning. Michigan retaliated in the latter half of the inning, with a two-RBI double by third baseman Pam Kosanke.

The Wolverines held the narrow lead until the top of the sixth when Ohio put two more runs on the board. With the bases juiced, right fielder Lyndsay Eirich singled past the pitcher, scoring Bankert. During the play, center fielder Sara Kraus scored after Michigan shortstop Rebecca Tune overthrew third base.

Pitcher Heather Hagen (5-10) tamed the Wolverine bats, striking out eight in a complete game effort. Hagen held Michigan to only three hits in the victory. Left fielder Stephanie Stapleton had the only multi-hit performance of the game, going 2-for-3 with a stolen base.

The first game of the doubleheader remained a standoff until the top of the eighth inning when first baseman Jennifer Schmidt blooped a single into right center off of Wolverine hurler Marissa Young. Schmidt advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by right fielder Anne Slusser. Two batters later, second baseman Tiffany Bolton drove in the game-winning run with a RBI single.

The contest was a pitching dual at its finest. Young pitched a complete game for the Wolverines, whiffing eight while scattering only five hits.

All three of Ohio's pitchers helped shut down the vaunted Michigan attack. Kasey Dowd (7-13) worked the first five innings, giving up two hits and striking out two batters. Christy Connelly stepped in for Dowd in the sixth inning. Connelly pitched 1 **1/3** innings allowing only one base runner on a walk. Hagen closed the door on the Wolverines, picking up her first of two wins on the day.

Schmidt sparked the Ohio offense, going 3-for-3. Eirich stole her seventh base of the season in the win.

The rest of Ohio's games this season will be at home, where the Bobcats are 6-3 on the season. Bowling Green marches into Athens Friday for a three-game series that should determine the Bobcats post-season fate.

The first game of the series begins at 3 p.m. at The Ohio Softball Field.