March 17, 2009
Final Stats
OXFORD, Ohio -The Miami University softball team dropped two games to Kentucky in its home opener Tuesday afternoon. The RedHawks fell 10-1 in six innings in game one, and 6-3 in game two. Miami is now 12-11 overall, while the Wildcats improve to 17-6.
The RedHawks nearly pulled off a dramatic comeback in game two after entering the bottom of the seventh trailing 6-0. After Meghan Mawn started the inning by reaching base on an error and advancing to second on a passed ball, it appeared that Daniela Torres had grounded out, which advanced Mawn to third base but gave Miami one out. Head Coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly correctly pointed out that Kentucky had forgotten to report a reentry substitution to the umpires before the start of the inning, which voided Torres' out and sent her back to the plate.
Mawn had to return to second base, but it didn't matter as given the second chance, Torres took advantage of her second chance and bouled to score Mawn. Two batters later, Lauren Odom singled to score Torres. Alexis Javier followed with a walk. Jordan McElroy then singled, which was followed by a throwing error that allowed Odom to score. With runners on first and third, one out and the tying run at the plate, Ashley Gartland popped up a bunt for the second out. Sarah Billstrom then hammered a ball to deep centerfield, but the Kentucky centerfielder caught the ball on the warning track to give the Wildcats the win.
Kentucky scored its runs early with one run in the first and four in the third off starter Jessica Simpson. Meredith Linch came in relief and pitched well, allowing only a solo home run the top of the seventh inning, while striking out six in four innings of work.
Linch pitched well in the first game, holding Kentucky off the board for the first 4 2/3 innings. Billstrom provided the offense for the RedHawks with a second inning home run, her third of the season.
The downfall for Miami in game one was the defense. With two outs in the top of the fifth an error on Billstrom extended the inning and allowed Kentucky to finally get on the board. They followed it up with two more runs to take a 3-1 lead. In the top of the sixth two more errors eventually led to seven runs for the Wildcats and the run-rule victory. Because of Miami's four errors on the day, all 10 runs scored by Kentucky were unearned.
The RedHawks return to action on Thursday when they travel to Wright State for a 2 p.m. doubleheader. Be sure to visit MURedHawks.com on Wednesday at 11:30 and participate in Head Coach Schoenly's live chat. Questions can be submitted for the chat at any time prior to the beginning of the chat and during the chat period.
