April 2, 2011

Final Stats

ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio softball team defeated Miami, 2-1, in an eight-inning pitchers' duel on Saturday. The RedHawks fall to 15-12 overall and 1-2 in the Mid-American Conference. The Bobcats are 12-15 overall and 1-2 in the MAC.

Ohio struck first with a run in the bottom of the third inning. After Jillian Van Wangen singled and stole second, a groundout moved her to third and another single made it 1-0 in favor of the Bobcats.

It remained that way until Miami broke through in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Meghan Mawn singled to right field. A Daniela Torres groundout moved her to second base. After Kayla Ledbetter walked, an Allie Larrabee single down the left field line brought home Mawn and made it 1-1.

For only the second time this season, extra innings were needed to decide the result of a Miami softball game. In the top of the eighth, Torres walked, but the RedHawks were unable to advance her. In the bottom of the frame, Alexis Joseph led off with a double to left field. A sacrifice bunt moved her over to third with only one out.

Miami intentionally walked Ohio's two power hitters, Melissa Bonner and Emily Worthington to load the bases and create a force at every base. However, the next batter Sara Clark, singled down the left field line to bring home the winning run for the Bobcats.

Mawn was the leading hitter for Miami on Saturday, going 2-for-4 with one run scored. Larrabee was 1-for-3 with one RBI, while Kirstie Fehrenbach finished the day 2-for-3. Jessica Simpson pitched well in the loss, giving up only two runs on six hits in 7.1 innings pitched. She struck out four.

The RedHawks will look to split the series with Ohio on Sunday when the two teams meet again at 1 p.m.