April 12, 2003
Box Score
The Miami RedHawks got out of the blocks early against Mid-American Conference East foe, Akron, on Saturday afternoon by hitting three home runs in the first game to win, 7-2, and then benefiting from a pitching gem by sophomore Jackie Poggendorf (Phoenix, Ariz./Shadow Mountain) in the second game to also earn a 1-0 victory at Buchtel Field on the campus of the University of Akron.
Freshman Becca Garcia (Martinez, Calif./College Park) got Miami's bats going early at Buchtel Field as she hit a two-run opposite field home run to give the RedHawks a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Senior Angie Gerber (La Salle, Mich./Mason) earned a two-out walk one batter before Garcia to score the first run.
In the bottom of the second, Akron got a run back when Kerry Omerza doubled, advanced to third on a passed ball and then scored on a single by Amy Garner to cut the lead in half.
Junior Jacque Molinaro (Folansbee, W.Va./Brooke) helped Miami flex their muscles again in the fourth inning when she blasted the first pitch of the at-bat over the left field wall for a three-run homerun. Sophomores Chelsie McWhorter (Lindon, Utah/Utah Valley State) and Keri McCready (Phoenix, Ariz./North Canyon) both earned walks ahead of Molinaro to take the score to 5-1.
Akron got one back in the fifth inning when Aaren McBride singled and then Kelly Quigly doubled to centerfield to make the score 5-2.
Garcia proved to be too much for the Zips as she homered for the second time of the game in the top of the seventh inning. Garcia hit a two-run shot to straight away centerfield following a single by Gerber.
Freshman Courtney Salmon (Auburn, Wash./Auburn) earned her ninth win of the season as she struck out a career high eight batters and only allowed five hits and one earned run.
In the second game, the score remained scoreless until the fourth inning when Miami scored the only run of the game. Garcia led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on a Poggendorf sacrifice bunt and then scored on a two-out check-swing single by McCready.
Poggendorf did the rest for the RedHawks as she struck out a career high 12 batters and did not allow a run to score while allowing five hits.
The RedHawks will go for the sweep against Akron on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Buchtel Field.
