April 9, 2011

Final Stats

OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami softball team held a 3-1 lead going into the top of the seventh, but two errors and a grand slam by Ball State's designated player Jennifer Gilbert led to a 5-3 win for the Cardinals on Saturday. The RedHawks fall to 16-14 overall and 2-3 in the Mid-American Conference. Ball State improves to 23-14 overall and 4-1 in the MAC.

Miami struck first with a run in the bottom of the first. With one out, Jordan McElroy tripled to right center. Meghan Mawn followed with a walk. A groundout by Kayla Ledbetter resulted in McElroy being gunned down at home plate. Allie Larrabee then followed with a single down the left field line to score Mawn.

Still leading 1-0 in the bottom of the third, McElroy led off the frame with a walk. Mawn singled to shortstop and Ledbetter walked to load the bases with no one out. A fielder's choice on Larrabee retired Mawn at home plate. The next pitch was wild to advance all the runners and score Mawn. After Jenna McGivney walked, Jessica Simpson hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Ledbetter and make it 3-0.

It remained that way until the top of the sixth as Simpson was keeping the MAC's top hitting offense at bay. Ball State finally used a walk, a double and a groundout to put itself on the board and make it 3-1. In the top of the seventh, the Cardinals got their leadoff hitter on base after an error by Mawn. Simpson struck out the next batter, but a ground ball by Alicia Barkley skipped under her glove for the second error of the inning. After another walk, Simpson got Amanda Carpenter to strikeout for the second out. However, Gilbert would then get ahold of a 0-1 pitch and send it over the right center wall to make it 5-3. In the bottom of the seventh Daniela Torres would leadoff with a walk, but the RedHawks were unable to advance her.

Mawn finished the day 1-for3 with two runs scored. Larrabee was 1-for-3 with one RBI. Simpson pitched all seven innings, giving up five runs on six hits, but only one of those runs was earned. She struck out nine but tied a season high with six walks.

Miami will look to earn a split in the series with Ball State when the two teams meet again on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Miami Softball Stadium.