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Ohio Wesleyan 9, Hiram 1
Hiram 6, Ohio Wesleyan 5
April 19, 2008
![[ Rita Cook ]](../images/rcook.jpg)
Sophomore third baseman Rita Cook (Sidney/Fairlawn) slammed a solo homer to put the Bishops ahead to stay and added a RBI single later in the inning to end the game as Ohio Wesleyan defeated Hiram in the opener of a North Coast Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday at Margaret Sagan Field.
In the nightcap, sophomore second baseman Devon Walker (Baltimore/Watkins Memorial) lashed a 2-run double to highlight a 4-run rally that brought the Bishops within 6-5, but Hiram held on to salvage a split of the twinbill.
Ohio Wesleyan took an early lead in the first inning of the opener as sophomore second baseman Emily Bradley (Columbus/Upper Arlington) led off with a single and scored on a double by freshman outfielder Tara VanVranken (North Canton/Massillon Jackson).
That run looked like it would be enough for sophomore lefthander Rachel Seibel (Johnstown/Johnstown-Monroe), who had blanked Hiram on 4 hits through the first 5.0 innings.
But the Terriers scratched out a run in the sixth as Whitney Dropsey reached second on a throwing error by sophomore shortstop Sarah Cook (Sidney/Fairlawn), moved to third on a sacrifice, and scored on a passed ball. A pair of walks and a sacrifice helped move the go-ahead run to third base, but Seibel bounced back to retire Rosie Frank and end the inning with the score tied, 1-1.
Rita Cook led off the bottom of the sixth by slamming a homer to left to gave Ohio Wesleyan a 2-1 lead. Sarah Cook followed with a single, took second on a passed ball and stole third, and after a walk to Seibel, the runners moved up on a passed ball. The Bishops loaded the bases as sophomore outfielder Krystle Skaziak (Dublin/Scioto) singled and Bradley was hit by a pitch, then sophomore outfielder Amanda Sanders (Lima/Bath) singled home 2 runs for a 5-1 Ohio Wesleyan lead. A walk to VanVranken reloaded the bases for senior catcher Miranda Simmons (Norwalk), who singled to left to score 2 runs, with VanVranken scoring all the way from first when Hiram leftfielder Megan Samuel misplayed the ball. After moving to third on a passed ball, Simmons scored on Rita Cook's single to end the game.
Seibel pitched the complete game for Ohio Wesleyan, striking out 2 and walking 3. VanVranken, Simmons, Rita Cook, Sarah Cook and Seibel had 2 hits apiece for the Bishops.
Jamie Brown was the starting and losing pitcher for Hiram.
In the nightcap, it was the Terriers who took the first-inning lead. Stephanie Zunic opened the game with a full-count double to the gap in right center. Zunic took third on a wild pitch as Samuel walked, and the runners moved up on another wild pitch for a 1-0 Hiram lead. Samuel moved to third on Chastine Romanello's infield out and scored on a wild pitch to give the Terriers a 2-0 lead.
Zunic led off the Hiram fifth with a solo homer to right center, and the Terriers added 3 more runs in the inning, which was capped by Mindy Miller's 2-run single that gave Hiram a 6-0 lead.
Ohio Wesleyan got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning as Walker lined a one-out single to right and continued to second when the ball got past Samuel for an error. Skaziak followed with a single up the middle to score Walker.
The Bishops rallied in the sixth as VanVranken opened the inning with a single and Simmons followed with a walk. One out later, Rita Cook doubled home VanVranken to make it 6-2. Sarah Cook flied to second for the second out, but Walker ripped a double down the leftfield line, scoring Simmons and Rita Cook to bring the Bishops within 6-4. Skaziak lined a single to center, scoring Walker, with Skaziak speeding into second on the throw to put the tying run into scoring position, but Brown relieved for Hiram and retired Bradley to end the inning.
Sophomore righthander Catrice Mayweather (Lewis Center/Olentangy) pitched the complete game for Ohio Wesleyan, striking out 6 and walking 4.
Dropsey, who was making her first pitching appearance of the season, was the starting and winning pitcher for Hiram. Brown got the final 4 outs for her first save of the season.
