Feb. 27, 2010
Oakland box score
CCSU box score
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Miami RedHawks earned two victories Saturday at the Frost Classic. In the early game, the RedHawks used some strong fielding plays to defeat Oakland, 2-1. In the nightcap, the bats got going as Miami beat Central Connecticut State, 7-1. The RedHawks improve to 3-3 on the season.
In the opener, Miami scored both of its runs in the top of the second inning. With one out, Alicia Hogl walked to get on base. Kristen Sheffield moved her to second on a groundout. Briana Burke singled Hogl home with a base hit up the middle. She advanced to second on the throw to the plate. Jenna McGivney followed with a double to right field to score Burke.
Meanwhile Jessica Simpson did a great job keeping the Golden Grizzlies off the board. She only allowed one unearned run in the bottom of the second after a fielding error.
Some great defensive plays kept Oakland from scoring further. In the bottom of the sixth with a runner on third and no one out, Oakland hit a single straight to centerfield. Kathryn Russette fielded the ball and made a great throw to home to throw out the runner. Simpson got the next batter to pop out and followed it up with a strikeout to get out of the inning unscathed.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Grizzlies got runners on first and second with one out. Meredith Linch came in to relieve Simpson. She earned the save by forcing the next batter to line out to Sarah Billstrom. Billstrom was then able to step on second before the runner could return to complete the unassisted double play and give Miami the victory.
Burke finished the game 1-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Meghan Mawn finished 2-for-3. Simpson earned her second victory of the season. She pitched 6.1 innings, giving up eight hits and no earned runs while striking out six.
Miami struck first with four runs in the bottom of the first against Central Connecticut State. Mawn led off with a double to left field. Russette advanced her to third base on a groundout. Billstrom walked and then stole second. The catcher threw the ball away, allowing Mawn to score. Shannon Tillett doubled to score Billstrom. Hogl singled up the middle to score Tillett. After Daniela Torres walked she stole second base, which allowed Hogl to steal home. It was the second time in this tournament that a Miami player has stolen home.
After the Blue Devils scored one run in the top of the fourth, the RedHawks answered with two more in the bottom of the frame. With Mawn on second base, Russette tripled down the left field line to score her. Billstrom followed with a walk. She stole second, where the catcher once again threw the ball away, which allowed Russette to score. Miami closed out its scoring in the bottom of the fifth when Casey Drees scored on a wild pitch. Drees had gotten on base earlier in the frame with her first career base hit.
Linch got the start for the RedHawks and pitched well throughout. She held CCSU to only one earned run on four hits. She struck out for six in the complete game victory.
Mawn finished the second game 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Tillett was 1-for-3 with one RBI.
Miami concludes play at the Frost Classic when it takes on the host Chattanooga at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
