April 7, 2006
Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - A pair of big innings sunk the Miami University softball team (14-24; 1-5 MAC) in its 11-5 loss to the Western Michigan Broncos on Friday at Fran Ebert Field. In the bitter-cold conclusion to the RedHawks' twinbill, the Broncos used a five-run third inning and a four-run fourth to battle back from a 3-0 deficit and sweep the doubleheader.
Miami scored the game's first run in the top of the first courtesy of a Western Michigan fielding error. Sophomore Halle Popson (Solon, Ohio) drew a leadoff walk to start the inning, and after advancing to second on a groundout, a muffed throw on junior Leslie Macedo's (Livermore, Calif.) slow roller put Miami in front, 1-0. Macedo hit a swinging bunt down the first base line that hugged the first-base line, and the after a rushed throw to first was mishandled, Popson raced home from second and narrowly beat the throw to the plate.
The RedHawks tacked on two runs in the top of the second as they extended their lead to 3-0. After sophomore Christine Bills (Canal Fulton, Ohio) led off the inning with a single, a one-out walk to sophomore Natalie Savona (Stamford, Conn.) put runners at first and second. Freshman Alexis Javier (Whittier, Calif.) then moved both runners over with a well-placed sacrifice bunt, and Popson followed with a line-drive single back through the middle, plating both runners. The RBIs were Popson's 16th and 17th of the season.
Five Western Michigan runs in the bottom of the third inning put the Broncos in front, 5-3. All five runs came with two outs in the frame as a three-run home run from Connie Kolokithas and a two-run single Katie Niemi put Miami in a two-run hole. Western Michigan sent nine batters to the plate in the third and notched five hits.
The Broncos added four runs in the bottom of the fourth as they stretched their lead to 9-3. A two-run single, a RBI groundout and a wild pitch plated Western Michigan's four runs, but four walks in the frame also aided the scoring rally.
Macedo drove in her team-leading 29th run in the top of the fifth inning as Miami cut Western Michigan's lead to 9-4. After junior Ashley Nieman (Richmond, Mich.) slapped a one-out single down the leftfield line and moved to second on a groundout, Macedo lined a RBI single through the right side. The RBI moved her one away from tying the Miami single-season record for runs-batted in.
Miami pushed across one run in the top of the sixth to move within four runs at 9-5, but it missed an opportunity to draw even closer. Popson drove in the lone run in the inning with a bases-loaded infield single, but a strikeout and a fielder's choice ended the rally and left three runners stranded.
Western Michigan plated two runs in the bottom of the sixth to push its lead to six runs, and Miami went quietly in the seventh as the Broncos took game two of the twinbill.
Popson led Miami with two hits and three RBIs (2-for-2), and she reached base in all four of her plate appearances. Freshman Kelly Cabana (4-13) tossed her seventh consecutive complete game and was saddled with the loss.
Miami resumes conference play tomorrow, April 8, against Northern Illinois. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. (EST) in DeKalb, Ill.
