March 10, 2012
Kennesaw State Box Score
Virginia Tech Box Score
CLEARWATER, Fla. - A long day resulted in two tough losses for the Miami University softball team at the Under Armour Showcase Saturday. The RedHawks fell to Kennesaw State, 7-4, in the opener. They then made a great seventh inning comeback against Virginia Tech in the nightcap, but ultimately fell, 6-5, in 10 innings. Miami is now 11-8 on the season.
Miami started out strong offensively in both games. After giving up a run in the top of the first in the opener against Kennesaw State (14-9), the RedHawks exploded for three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. With one out Kristy Arbour and Bree Lipscomb reached on back-to-back singles. Daniela Torres reached on a fielder's choice after the shortstop threw the ball away trying to get the out at second. Arbour came around to score, while the Lipscomb reached third. Allie Larrabee then came up and smashed a double to left center, bringing home Lipscomb and Torres and making it 3-1.
The Owls quickly tied things up with two runs of their own in the top of the second. It stayed that way until the top of the fifth when two singles, a walk and a double would lead to three Kennesaw State runs and give it a 6-3 advantage.
Miami fought back with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Kirstie Fehrenbach led off by reaching on a throwing error by the KSU third baseman. She then stole second and advanced to third after the catcher threw the ball away. With Torres at bat, the catcher threw the ball away again and allowed Fehrenbach to score, making it 6-4. It would be the last run Miami would get, as the Owls tacked on one more in the top of the seventh to take the 7-4 win.
Larrabee finished the game 1-for-3 with two RBI. Lipscomb was 1-for-3 with one run scored. Jessica Simpson took the loss in the circle for the RedHawks. She allowed six runs (four earned) on nine hits, while striking out six in 4.1 innings.
It was another strong start in the nightcap against Virginia Tech (15-9) as Miami scored two runs in the top of the first. With one out, Arbour reached on an error by the shortstop. Torres than advanced her to second with a single to left field. Larrabee followed with a grounder, but the Hokies were unable to get an out, leaving the bases loaded with only one out. Jordan McElroy then put the Red and White on the board with a single to left field, bringing home Arbour and Torres and making it 2-0.
Paige Myers kept the Virginia Tech offense in check during the first half of the game, not allowing a run until the bottom of the fifth inning. After she got the first two batters of the frame, an error would keep the inning alive. It would go on to hurt the RedHawks, as a walk, two singles, and another error would lead to three runs and give the Hokies their first lead at 3-2.
Virginia Tech would make it 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth on another Miami defensive miscue, but that set the stage for the RedHawks comeback in the top of the seventh. The Hokies retired the first two batters before Fehrenbach singled to centerfield. Arbour then reached on an infield single to third. Both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch. Torres followed with a single to short that allowed Fehrenbach to score. The shortstop threw the ball away, which allowed Arbour to also score and tie game at four.
The game went into extra innings and was played with the international tiebreaker rule, in which each team begins the frame with a runner on second base. Neither team was able to score in the eighth, with Torres keeping the Hokies off the board with a nice inning-ending unassisted double play lineout.
In the top of the ninth, Ashley Zappia was placed on second. A Fehrenbach bunt single moved her over to third. Arbour then attempted the squeeze bunt, but Virginia Tech was able to get Zappia out at home. Two batters later, Larrabee would single to left field, allowing Fehrenbach to score. In the bottom of the inning, Simpson, who had relieved Myers in the sixth, struck out the first batter, but a single down the left field line would bring the Hokies' runner home from second base and tie the score at five.
In the top of the 10th, Shanyn McIntyre was placed on second. Tiyona Marshall successfully bunted her over to third, but Miami was unable to bring her home. In the bottom of the inning, Virginia Tech also bunted their runner over to third base, and a single Betty Rose would score her and give the Hokies a 6-5 win.
Arbour finished the nightcap 3-for-5 with two runs scored. McElroy was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Torres was 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Simpson took the loss despite allowing only two hits in 3.2 innings. None of the six runs scored against the RedHawks' two pitchers was earned due to defensive errors.
Miami completes play at the Under Armour Showcase on Sunday when it takes on Boston University at 11:15 a.m.
