Sept. 30, 2006
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio - In the grand opening of the new $4.5 million Miami Softball Stadium, the Miami University softball team earned a doubleheader split with the University of Louisville, which has qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three seasons. Miami dropped game one to Louisville, 12-3, before rebounding to win Saturday's second game, 3-2, behind the bat of senior Leslie Macedo (Livermore, Calif.) and the arm of freshman pitcher Alex Vikartofsky (Long Grove, Ill.).
Numerous RedHawks turned in positive individual performances in the doubleheader, including a pair of freshmen pitchers. Vikartofsky earned the win in Miami's second game, allowing two earned runs in 5.1 innings, while classmate Meredith Linch (Eatonton, Ga.) saw action in both games, striking out three in six innings and notching a save. Macedo, who saw time at both third base and designated player, also finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored in the twinbill, including a game-tying two-run double in game two.
In game one, Louisville jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the RedHawks responded with a pair of two-out runs in the bottom of the second. Macedo led off the frame with a bloop infield single, and the Cardinals then misplayed freshman Alicia Hogl's (Bellingham, Wash.) sacrifice bunt attempt, failing to throw out Macedo at second. Freshman Briana Burke (Upland, Calif.) moved up both runners with a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt, and after a strikeout, junior Kimberly Williams (Circleville, Ohio) laced a two-out, full-count single through the right side, plating both runners and tying the game.
The Cardinals put up two more runs in the top of the fourth, but the RedHawks sliced the lead to 4-3 on a RBI triple from Hogl in the bottom of the inning. After Macedo drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the fourth, Hogl slapped a 1-0 pitch into the rightfield gap that rolled all the way to fence, scoring Macedo from first.
A pair of Miami errors in the top of the fifth opened the door to an eight-run inning that put Louisville in front, 12-3.
In game two of the twinbill, both teams played scoreless softball for three full innings before Louisville scored a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. A walk, a single and a two-run double by Melissa Roth put Miami in a two-run hole.
The RedHawks struck back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, sparked by a pair of Cardinal errors. After the first two batters went quietly in the fifth, Hogl popped out to first base which would have ended the inning, but the umpire ruled that the catcher interfered on the play and awarded Hogl first base. With an extra out to work with, senior Ashley Nieman (Richmond, Mich.) slapped a single up the middle, and Macedo ripped a line-drive double off the wall in the left centerfield that plated both Hogl and Nieman. Williams then drew a two-out walk, and freshman Sarah Billstrom's (Douglasville, Ga.) high pop fly was dropped by the Cardinals' leftfielder, allowing Hogl to score from second and giving Miami a 3-2 lead.
Louisville put runners on base in both the sixth and seventh innings, but Linch tossed 1.2 scoreless innings to slam the door and earn the save. Despite loading the bases in the sixth and allowing a single and walk in the seventh, Linch made pitches when she had to and punctuated the win with a strikeout of Roth to end the game.
A trio of RedHawks notched a pair of hits in Saturday's twinbill including Macedo, Hogl (2-for-3) and Nieman (2-for-6). Macedo and Williams also finished with a pair of RBIs.
Making her head coaching debut on Saturday, Miami head coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly earned her first career win as she defeated current Louisville and former Miami mentor Sandy Pearsall. Pearsall, who coached with the Red and White from 1993-98, won 107 games in her six seasons in Oxford before moving on to coach at Louisville.
Miami resumes its fall slate tomorrow when it travels to the Ohio Charity Classic for three games against Wright State (11 a.m.), Ohio State (1 p.m.) and Ohio (5 p.m.).
UNOFFICIAL MIAMI SOFTBALL STADIUM FIRSTS:
First Game: Sept. 30, 2006 versus Louisville
First Pitch: Miami's Meredith Linch to Louisville's Audrey Rendon at 11:01 a.m.
First Hit: Louisville's Audrey Rendon singled up the middle (first inning)
First Run: Louisville's Audrey Rendon scored on RBI single by Courtney Moore (first inning)
First Miami Hit: Leslie Macedo singled to second base (second inning)
First Miami Run: Leslie Macedo scored on RBI single by Kimberly Williams (second inning)
First Miami Win: Miami defeated Louisville, 3-2 (Game two of doubleheader)
