Miami University
Morehead State
RedHawks Sweep Doubleheader Against Morehead State
3/24/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 24, 2011
Miami Softball Invitational Homepage
OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami softball team opened home play in a big way with a doubleheader sweep of Morehead State on Thursday. The RedHawks won the first game, 8-1, and took the nightcap by an 8-4 score. Miami is now 13-8 on the season, while the Eagles fall to 9-18.
Junior Jessica Simpson earned the win in both games to improve her own record to 12-4. She pitched a complete game three-hitter in the opener, allowing only one unearned run on three hits. She struck out 11. With the RedHawks trailing 4-2 in the top of the fourth and Morehead State having the bases loaded with no one out threatening to add some more runs, Simpson came in and got a strikeout and two groundouts to end the inning. She would allow no more runs as the RedHawks came from behind to win. In that contest she pitched four innings, allowing two hits while striking out three.
Jenna McGivney singled through the right side to score Jordan McElroy and put Miami in front, 1-0, in the bottom of the first of the first game. The RedHawks broke it open with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. After Allie Larrabee singled she was replaced by pinch-runner Brandi Hernandez. Simpson followed with a single through the left side and was replaced by pinch-runner Kathryn Russette. Kirstie Fehrenbach singled to shortstop to load the bases with nobody out. A walk to McElroy brought home a run and made it 2-0.Kristy Arbour and Meghan Mawn each followed with singles to bring home two more runs and make it 4-0.
After Morehead State scored off an error in the top of the fifth, Miami put the game away with three more runs in the bottom of the frame. Daniela Torres led off the inning with a single to left field. She then stole second. Hernandez got on base with a walk. Simpson flew out to right field, which moved the runners up a base. Fehrenbach singled to the shortstop again, which didn't bring home a run, but did load the bases. A sacrifice fly by McElroy scored Torres. Arbour then followed with a single that would score both Fehrenbach and Hernandez. Miami completed its scoring in the bottom of the sixth when Simpson singled to score Torres.
Arbour finished the game 2-for-5 with a career-high three RBI. Mawn was 3-for-4 with one RBI. Torres and Fehrenbach were each 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Larrabee was 2-for-2.
McGivney and Mawn each drove in runs early in the second game, but the RedHawks still found themselves trailing, 4-2, in the top of the fourth inning. After Simpson got it out of the bases loaded jam, Miami would regain the lead with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. With two runners on, Larrabee walked to load the bases with no one out. Simpson would tie the score at four with a single up the middle that scored Torres and Hernandez. A fielding error would then reload the bases. McElroy would take one for the team as she was hit by the pitch to force another run home and give the RedHawks a 5-4 lead. Two batters later, Mawn singled to left field to score Fehrenbach and make it 6-4.
Miami would complete its scoring with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. In the bottom of the fifth, a throwing error on Larrabee's at bat allowed Torres to come home from second. In the bottom of the sixth, Larrabee singled to left field to score Taylor Rice.
Mawn finished the nightcap 2-for-4 with two RBI. Rice was 2-for-4 with one run scored. Larrabee was 1-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.
The RedHawks host the Miami Softball Invitational Friday through Sunday as 10 games will take place at the Miami Softball Stadium involving five different teams. Three games are scheduled for Friday, with Toledo taking on Marshall at noon, Miami facing off against Toledo at 2 p.m. and Miami taking on Marshall at 4 p.m.
