April 26, 2003
Final Stats
A nine-game winning streak for Miami University's women's softball team came to an abrupt halt Saturday afternoon at the University at Buffalo, as the Bulls swept the RedHawks, 1-0 and 3-2, despite a solid afternoon from the Miami pitching staff.
Buffalo(17-17, 6-9) scored the only run of the first game in the first inning, as Dominique Jones reached base on a check swing single with one out. Jones advanced to second when Ann Magur was hit by a pitch and then scored on a Breanne Nasti double to the left-center gap. Freshman pitcher Courtney Salmon (Auburn, Wash./Auburn) struck out the last two batters of the inning to strand runners in scoring position.
After allowing the run, Salmon was perfect the rest of the way, retiring the next 17 Bulls she faced. Salmon allowed two hits in the first inning and on the game, while striking out seven Buffalo batters.
Miami had its chances, leaving at least one runner on base in each inning. The RedHawks out-hit the Bulls 6-2 in the losing effort.
Much like the first game, Buffalo wasted little time in the second outing, quickly seizing the advantage. Mangur doubled to lead off the game and then scored with one out on an opposite field double by Kelly Malone. Sophomore Jackie Poggendorf (Phoenix, Ariz./Shadow Mountain) retired the final two batters of the inning, to leave two Buffalo runners stranded and the Bulls with a 1-0 advantage.
Miami finally got accross the plate for the first time when Poggendorf reached first on a fielding error by the Bulls' third baseman after a well-placed bunt. Senior Angie Gerber (La Salle, Mich./Mason) followed Poggendorf by hitting a hard single to center field that bounced off the knee of the Buffalo centerfielder to the wall, scoring Poggendorf and tying the game at one run apiece.
Buffalo took the lead for good in the sixth inning when it scored two runs off of three singles to make the score 3-1.
The RedHawks fought back in the seventh when sophomore Allison Maxey (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central) hit the first pitch of the inning into straight away centerfield for a home run, closing the gap to 3-2.
Poggendorf, who entered the game on a six-game winning streak, pitched another gem, striking out 10 Buffalo batters while giving up just seven hits and three earned runs. Poggendorf dropped to 9-11 overall as her winning streak ended.
Miami travels to Kent State next weekend for the regular season series finale as they battle the Golden Flashes for the final Mid-American Conference Tournament berth on Saturday and Sunday in a key series.
