April 24, 2009
Game one box
Game two box
ATHENS, Ohio - The RedHawks saw their eight-game conference winning streak come to an end when they dropped two games to Ohio Friday. Miami lost game one 8-2 and dropped the nightcap 4-3. The RedHawks are now 26-19 overall and 12-6 in the Mid-American Conference. The Bobcats are 21-18 and 11-7 in the MAC.
The RedHawks fell behind 2-0 early in game one when Emily Wethington hit a two-run home run. The Bobcats made it 3-0 in the bottom of the third with another base hit. Miami finally got on the board when Sarah Billstrom hit a long home run to left center in the top of the sixth, but Ohio put the game away with five more runs in the bottom half of that inning. Alicia Hogl added one more run for the RedHawks in the top of the seventh with her first home run of the season.
Billstrom led Miami at the plate in the first game, going 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.
Game two started off exactly the same when Wethington put Ohio up 2-0 with a first inning home run. This time starter Meredith Linch recovered nicely and held the Bobcats off the board for the next four innings. However, starter Melissa Bonner kept Miami at bay, pitching a perfect game through five and one-third innings.
The RedHawks ended the perfect game in the top of the fifth when pinch-hitter Daniela Torres hit a sharp grounder that got past the third baseman. Alexis Javier followed with a single to right field. After Jordan McElroy grounded out to move them up to second and third, Meghan Mawn hit a double down the left field line that tied the game at two. Two batters later, Jenna McGivney singled home Mawn to give Miami its first lead of the day at 3-2.
The lead would be short lived as Ohio got two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The go ahead run was scored on a play at the plate as Bonner scored just under McGivney's tag. McElroy was nearly able to gun her down with a great throw from centerfield.
In the top of the seventh, Miami was able to get runners on first and second with two outs. However the Ohio shortstop was able to snag Mawn's sharp liner and preserve the 4-3 win.
Mawn was 1-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. McGivney was 1-for-3 with one RBI. Linch pitched six innings, giving up four earned runs and striking out five.
Miami returns to the field Saturday when it travels to Akron for a single game at 2 p.m.
