Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami Softball Defeats Eastern Michigan 9-3
3/24/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
OXFORD, Ohio (March 24) -- Sparked by Kristina Mortaloni's 3-for-4 effort at the plate, Miami University's softball team (10-14; 2-1 MAC) capped a three-game series with Eastern Michigan (6-15; 1-2 MAC) with a 9-3 triumph. The RedHawks split a doubleheader with the Eagles Friday (March 23), dropping the first game 5-1 and taking the second game 1-0.
Miami jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Abbey Arnold singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Abbey Arnold advanced to third when twin sister Amber Arnold singled. Abbey Arnold scored on a fielding error. Nicki Pelfrey drilled a triple to score Amber Arnold and Erin Kucera, who single to get on base.
Eastern Michigan pulled to with in one, 2-3, at the top of the third when Christie Koester singled to score Randi Wolfe and Jilian Raines. In the bottom of the inning, however, Miami extended its lead to two, 2-4, when Angie Gerber singled to drive in Mary Neal who was pinch running for Mortaloni. Mortaloni singled to lead off for the RedHawks.
A five-run inning in the fourth for Miami iced the RedHawk win. Doubles by Kucera and Mortaloni and a triple by Laura Fulton highlighted the inning. Mortaloni's two-run double was the 32nd of her career and moved her into sole possession of second on Miami's career doubles chart. She is just four shy of tying the career standard of 36 set by Monique Abbitt (1988-91).
The Eagles conjured up one more run in the top of the seventh when Tauna Kinsey hit a sacrifice fly to score Deanna Wisnieski, but were unable to recoup from Miami's three scorching innings at the plate.
Amber Arnold pitched her eighth complete game of the season and evened her record to 6-6 with the win.
Miami continues league action at Northern Illinois on Tuesday, March 27 in a 2 p.m. doubleheader.
