March 25, 2004
Box Score: Miami 2, Butler 0 (11 innings)
Box Score: Miami 1, Butler 0
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Junior Jackie Poggendorf (Phoenix, Ariz./Shadow Mountain) and sophomore Courtney Salmon (Auburn, Wa./Auburn) pitched back-to-back shutouts as Miami University's softball team swept a doubleheader with Butler at Varsity Field, 2-0 in 11 innings and 1-0, respectively. With the sweep, Miami improves to 7-15 on the season, while Butler falls to 4-20.
"It was a great team effort today," said head coach Angie Jacobs. "That is exactly what our players need before the start of the conference season. We are right where we need to be."
In game one, with the two teams playing to scoreless tie heading into the 11th inning, the RedHawks scored a pair of runs on sophomore Bianca Paz's (Mesilla, N.M./Las Cruces) second double of the game. Senior Jacque Molinaro (Follansbee, W.Va./Brooke) led off the 11th with a single to left field. Three batters later, junior Allison Maxey (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central) reached on a single to center, before Paz doubled off the middle of the wall in center field scored both runners.
Poggendorf (3-3) went the distance, striking out nine, allowing two hits and walking none. She took a perfect game into the seventh, before JoAnna Gonzalez led off with a single. Sophomore catcher Becca Garcia (Martinez, Calif./College Park) picked Gonzalez off first base, and caught Butler's second base runner stealing, a hit batter in the ninth, as Poggendorf faced just one batter above the minimum.
"There really is nothing to say, but 'wow'," said Jacobs. "(Jackie and Courtney) pitched their guts out today. I wish we could have gotten more runs for them earlier."
Despite Miami's season-high 13 hits, game one amounted to a pitcher's duel, as Butler's Melissa Benter stranded 11 RedHawk baserunners in hurling the complete game. She also struck out seven and walked none.
"We came out aggressive and hit the ball hard," said Jacobs. "This team continues to hit the ball hard, but just at people. With time those balls will (find the holes)."
The RedHawks jumped on the board early in game two, plating the game's only run in the second inning. With one out, Molinaro singled to center field and was moved to second on sophomore Kristen Hays' (Phoenix, Ariz./Shadow Mountain) ground out. Junior Chelsie McWhorter (Lindon, Utah/Mountain View) scored Molinaro with a double to the wall in right.
Salmon (4-5) allowed just one hit, an infield single to Lynn Hohs in the first inning. In seven innings of work the sophomore struck out five for the win.
"A day like this is a great confidence boost," Jacobs added on the prospect of this weekend's conference opener. "We pitched well today, and we hit the ball well today. That's just what you need before entering the conference."
With her first-inning walk in game two, senior Jessica Zogaib (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) tied Nicki Pelfrey (1999-2002) for the school record in career walks with 49. Zogaib had 17 walks as both a freshman and sophomore, before getting nine free passes as a junior. Today's walk is her sixth of the season.
Miami kicks off its home and MAC seasons, March 27-28, when Buffalo comes to Oxford. The RedHawks and Bulls are playing two games on Saturday and a single game on Sunday. Action starts at 1 p.m. on both days.
