Miami University
Connecticut
Miami Earns Two Shutouts at Miken Classic
3/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 5, 2010
BOCA RATON, Fla. - A pair of tremendous pitching performances earned Miami two wins Friday to open the Miken Classic hosted by Florida Atlantic. In the opener, the RedHawks defeated Connecticut, 2-0, on Jessica Simpson's four-hit shutout effort. In the nightcap, Meredith Linch came one out away from her first career no-hitter before settling for the one-hitter in a 3-0 victory over Florida A&M. Miami improves to 5-4 on the season.
The opener featured a dual between Simpson and UConn's Kiki Savariano. In the first six innings, the Huskies were able to get two people on base twice, but Simpson never allowed a runner to reach third base.
In the bottom of the sixth, Meghan Mawn reached first after being hit by the pitch. Sarah Billstrom sacrificed her over to second. A walk by Shannon Tillett put runners on first and second with one out. Alicia Hogl was able to reach second base on an error by the shortstop, which allowed Tillett to move up to third and Mawn to score. Ashley Zappia followed with a squeeze bunt that brought Tillett home to complete the scoring. In the top of the seventh, Simpson allowed a single with two outs, but got the next batter to ground out to third base to earn the shutout.
In addition to only allowing four hits, Simpson struck out a season-high 10 batters and only walked two. Mawn finished the game 1-for-2 with one run scored.
In the second game against the Rattlers, Linch did give up six walks, but consistently stranded them with groundouts and strikeouts. In the bottom of the seventh she got the first hitter to groundout to third and the next batter to strikeout. However, with two outs Florida A&M was able to get the single to left field to break up the no-hitter. Linch got the next hitter to groundout to shortstop to secure Miami's second shutout of the day.
The RedHawks scored got their offense against the Rattlers with single runs in each of the first three innings. In the top of the first, Kathryn Russette grounded out to the pitcher with the bases loaded to score Jordan McElroy. In the top of the second Daniela Torres tripled to left field to score Zappia. Finally in the top of the third Hogl scored on a passed ball.
Torres was 3-for-3 with one RBI against the Rattlers. Mawn finished 2-for-4.
Miami continues play in the Miken Classic on Saturday when it plays the host Florida Atlantic at 6 p.m.
