Oct. 14, 2003
Box Score: Miami 7, Wittenberg 0
Box Score: Miami 9, Dayton 3
Box Score: Ohio State 3, Miami 2
Box Score: Miami 6, Wright State 1
DAYTON, Ohio - Eight players batted over .300, and RedHawk pitchers combined for a 1.00 ERA as Miami University's softball team finished the Wright State Fall Tournament with a 3-1 record and second-place finish behind undefeated Ohio State. The tournament was Miami's only action of the fall season.
The RedHawks picked up Saturday wins against Wittenberg, 7-0, and Dayton, 9-3. Against the Flyers, Miami battled back from a first-inning, 3-1 deficit for the win. Sophomore Courtney Salmon got the win in both games, pitching seven total innings, while allowing just three hits and striking out 10.
Trailing 1-0, the Buckeyes scored a pair of runs in the fourth, and another run in the sixth, to hand Miami its only loss of the weekend, 3-2, on Sunday. The RedHawks got on the board first, scoring one run in the first inning, while adding another run in the top of the seventh.
Miami bounced back from its loss to OSU, to defeat Wright State, 6-1, in the final game of the tournament. Senior Chelsie McWhorter broke a scoreless tie with a three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning. The RedHawks would add a run in the fourth and two more in the sixth to run the score to 6-0. The Raiders got a run back in the top of the seventh, but were unable to generate any more offense. Freshman Heather Freudenberger pitched seven strong innings, allowing one unearned run for the win.
At The Plate: For the weekend, the RedHawks batted .321, while holding opponents to a .184 clip. Seven starters batted over .300, including McWhorter and junior Jackie Poggendorf, who hit .545 (6-11) and .500 (4-8) for the weekend, respectively. Leslie Macedo batted .462 (6-13), while Jamie Carey tied McWhorter with a team-high six runs scored. Newcomer Kristen Hays displayed her speed on the basepaths, stealing three bases in as many attempts.
On The Mound: Salmon and Freudenberger combined for a 1.00 ERA, and 20 strikeouts in 27 innings. Both pitchers split the moundwork for Miami, while Salmon finished with a 2-1 record. Poggendorf did not pitch this weekend after leading the RedHawks in innings the last two years, in order to give the freshman, Freudenberger, more innings.
Newcomers: While there were no big surprises over the weekend, head coach Angie Jacobs was pleased with the performances of the newcomers. Hays, Macedo and Bianca Paz all had solid weekends. Combined, the trio batted .375 with three doubles, as well as six runs and six RBIs.
Big Weekend: Offensively, Chelsie McWhorter led the RedHawks in most categories. Along with batting .545, and scoring six times, McWhorter hit a three-run home run to break a scoreless tie against Wright State. It was the only home run by Miami, or its opponents.
Coach Jacobs On This Weekend's Games: "The great thing about this past weekend was that we played with intensity and tons of energy, and that carried throughout the four games. There were opportunities where we could have dropped our heads, but we stayed with it, stayed focused, and found a way to execute."
Next Up: The RedHawks begin their traditional season at the Triangle Classic in Raleigh, NC. Pool play begins Feb. 13 against Fordham at 11 a.m. and Mercer at 1:30 p.m.
