April 3, 2009
Final Stats
OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami softball team dropped its doubleheader against Kent State Friday afternoon. The RedHawks fell 5-4 in game one and 9-5 in game two. Miami is now 16-15 overall and 3-3 in the Mid-American Conference. The Golden Flashes are 13-15 overall and 4-0 in the MAC.
The RedHawks had to face two-time defending MAC Pitcher of the Year Kylie Reynolds in game one. Reynolds held Miami down early as the Golden Flashes took a 3-0 lead in the second inning when the RedHawks committed three costly errors while dealing with a stiff wind.
After Kent State scored two more in the top of the fifth off a home run, Miami got the bats going with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Alicia Hogl doubled with one out to score Jenna McGivney. Kathryn Russette and Jordan McElroy followed up with singles to load the bases. Ashley Gartland was then able to hit a bloop double down the right field line that scored Russette and Katie Osburn, who had pinch ran for Hogl.
Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Sarah Billstrom led off with a single to left field. Jenna McGivney followed with a double that put runners on second and third with no one out. After a groundout, Hogl hit a fly ball to centerfield that scored Billstrom on the sacrifice fly. Reynolds then was able to get Russette to strike out to help secure the win for the Golden Flashes.
Hogl finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBI. McElroy also was 2-for-3. Jessica Simpson took the loss for Miami pitching five innings and giving up four earned runs on five hits. Osburn pitched well in relief giving up no runs on two hits in two innings.
After spotting Kent State a 2-0 lead in the first inning of game two, the RedHawks responded with three runs in the bottom of the second. Russette recorded the first RBI when she grounded into a fielder's choice that scored Billstrom. Two batters later, Alexis Javier singled up the middle to score Hogl. Finally after a walk to McElroy, Gartland singled to the shortstop which scored Russette.
Kent State responded with a three-run home run to left field by Ashlee Hein in the top of the third to go back on top 5-3. In the bottom of the inning Lauren Odom drew a bases loaded walk to score McGivney, while Javier hit a sacrifice fly to score Hogl.
The Golden Flashes were able to put the game away with two runs in the top of the fifth and two more in the top of the seventh. They brought in Reynolds in the fifth inning, and she was able to keep the RedHawks off the board to earn the save.
Hogl finished the day 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored. Meredith Linch took the loss giving up six earned runs in four innings pitched.
Miami returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Buffalo in a single game at 2 p.m.
