Feb. 11, 2012
Final Stats
Southern Illinois box
Austin Peay box
WOODSTOCK, Ga. - The Miami University softball team had a great opening day Saturday at the KSU Classic, winning both of its games. The RedHawks scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Southern Illinois, 3-2, in the opener, and followed it up with a 7-3 victory over Austin Peay in the nightcap. Both games were played with temps in the 30s and wild chills in the 20s.
In the opener against Southern Illinois, it was actually a shaky start for the reigning Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year, Jessica Simpson. She allowed two runs on two hits and three walks in the top of the first inning. She would settle down from there, shutting out the Salukis the rest of the way, allowing only four more hits while striking out 10.
The RedHawks scored their first run of the season in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Kirstie Fehrenbach singled. Daniela Torres followed with a walk. Freshman Shanyn McIntyre would follow with a double for her first career RBI, driving home Fehrenbach.
It remained 2-1 until the bottom of the sixth inning. With Brandi Hernandez on second base pinch-running after a Kayla Ledbetter single, a single from Remy Edwards would drive her home and tie the score at two.
Casey Dress led off the bottom of the seventh with a double. Jordan McElroy followed up with a walk. Fehrenbach would sacrafice both runners up a base. Torres would then come up and single Drees home to win the game for the RedHawks.
Torres finished the opener 2-for-3 with one RBI. McIntyre was 1-for-3 with one RBI.
Miami struck first with two runs in the top of the first in the nightcap against Austin Peay. Fehrenbach led off with a single to shortstop. Tiyona Marshall sacrificed her to second, while a Torres single moved her to third. Allie Larrabee singled to the pitcher to drive Fehrenbach home. Ledbetter than reached on a fielder's choice to allow Torres to score and make it 2-0.
The RedHawks blew the game open with five runs in the top of the fifth. With runners on first and third and one out, Fehrenbach singled up the middle to bring home McElroy and make it 3-0. Marshall would follow that with a triple that brought home Kylie McChesney and Fehrenbach to make it 5-0. After a pitching change, a single from Torres scored Ledbetter. Torres stole second and was brought home by a Larrabee single up the middle.
Meanwhile Paige Myers pitched well for Miami, shutting out the Governors for the first six innings. Austin Peay was able to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Myers settled down to record a pop out and secure her first win of the season. Myers finished the day allowing two earned runs on eight hits. She struck out 10.
Larrabee finished the nightcap 3-for-4 with two RBI. Fehrenbach was 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored, while Torres was also 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored.
Miami completes play at the KSU Classic with two games on Sunday. Game times have been pushed back slightly to allow the teams to play in slightly warmer temperatures. The RedHawks will now take on Mercer at noon, and Kennesaw State immediately following at 2 p.m.
