Central Michigan University
Ohio
Pettit Shuts Out Bobcats, 3-0
5/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 6, 2006
MOUNT PLEASANT - Freshman Ali Pettit posted her first career shutout while scattering five hits as the Central Michigan University Chippewas posted a 3-0 win over Ohio at the sunny CMU Softball Complex on Saturday afternoon.
Pettit struck out four without allowing a walk as she won her eighth straight decision and improved to 6-0 in MAC play, 8-4 overall.
"When Ohio had runners in scoring position, Ali got tougher," coach Margo Jonker said. "Her ability to do that has impressed me all season long."
The Chippewas (21-25, 12-7 MAC) scored single runs in the second, third and fourth innings while the Bobcats stranded runners in scoring position in three frames. OU (26-37, 7-14 MAC) threatened to break up the shutout in the fifth and sixth but both times the Bobcats left a runner at third.
"When we get a lead early it helps our confidence and we seem to play better," Jonker said. "That's what happened today."
Christan Dhondt led off the second inning with a hard single to left and she was replaced by pinch runner Katie Horvath. A sacrifice by Lindsey Calme moved Horvath into scoring position and she went to third on a ground out. Horvath scored when Kim Cozat beat out a grounder to third.
Karen Hohs scored CMU's second inning run after getting on with a one-out single. Suzie Giroux plated her with an RBI single up the middle.
Dhondt also led off the fourth with a double to the gap in left center and Stephanie Crews had an RBI single to score her from third.
Pettit had only given up one hit through the first four innings but she surrendered one in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh.
CMU countered with eight hits in the game and neither team had a fielding error.
Dhondt and Stephanie Crews were both 2-for-3 in the game.
OU's Michelle Sauter went the distance in the circle to drop to 12-16. She fanned one.
The two teams will close the regular season on Sunday with a 1 p.m. matinee. It will mark the last home game for five seniors - Brittany Decker, Dhondt, Jessica Garvin, Allie Hansen and Hohs.
Ohio will be looking to get into the eight-team MAC Tournament field as the Bobcats remained tied with Miami for the final position. Miami dropped a 6-5 decision at Buffalo on Saturday.
