Miami University
Niagara
Offense Explodes in Softball Sweep
3/16/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 16, 2012
OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami University softball team's offense came alive Friday as it earned two victories in its own annual Miami Invitational. The RedHawks won the first game over Niagara, 10-0, and then took the nightcap over Dayton, 9-0. Both games were run-rule shortened to five innings, and each contest was highlighted by a three-run home run from freshman Megan Mattera. Miami improves to 13-9 on the season.
The RedHawks opened things up against Niagara (4-11) with five runs in the bottom of the first. Kirstie Fehrenbach led the contest with a single to left field. Kristy Arbour and Daniela Torres reached on an error and a walk, respectively, to load the bases. Two batters later, Jordan McElroy doubled down the left field line to bring home Fehrenbach and Arbour. Bree Lipscomb would put down a squeeze bunt to score Torres and make it 3-0. A groundout by Kayla Ledbetter would score McElroy, while a single by Kylie McChesney would bring home Lipscomb and make it 5-0.
Fehrenbach stole home in the second in the bottom of the second, while Allie Larrabee doubled home Torres in the fourth to make 7-0. With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Tiyona Marshall walked, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Fehrenbach followed with a walk. Mattera would then pinch-hit for Arbour. She would send a shot well over the left centerfield wall to give Miami a walk-off 10-0 run-rule win.
Mattera finished the opener 1-for-1 with three RBI and one run scored. Fehrenbach was 3-for-3 with three runs scored. McChesney was 2-for-3 with one RBI.
Paige Myers kept the Purple Eagles off the board in her five innings of work. She allowed only two hits, while walking none. She struck out four to improve her record to 6-1.
It was déjàvu in the nightcap, as the RedHawks opened up the top of the first against Dayton (8-10) with five runs. Fehrenbach led things off with a single through the left side, while Arbour sacrificed her over to second base. A Torres triple to right center would bring home Fehrenbach. Larrabee singled up the middle to score Torres and make it 2-0. McElroy then singled up the middle to put two people on base. Mattera promptly cleared the bases with a line shot that hit the foul pole for her second home run of the day and made it 5-0.
It remained that way until the top of the fifth. With two outs, McElroy singled to centerfield, Mattera singled through the left side and McChesney reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Taylor Rice would follow with a double to deep centerfield that brought home all three runners and made it 8-0. An infield single by Marshall would give Miami some insurance by bringing home Rice and making it 9-0.
Jessica Simpson pitched the first four innings of the contest to earn her seventh victory of the season and put her only eight wins away from tying the Mid-American Conference record for career victories. She allowed only three hits and struck out seven. Katie Osburn kept the Flyers off the board in the bottom of the fifth to secure the run-rule victory.
Rice finished the nightcap 2-for-3 with three RBI and one run scored. Mattera was 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Torres was 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored, while McElroy was 3-for-3 with two runs scored.
The RedHawks continue play on Saturday at their Miami Invitational when they take on Loyola at 1 p.m. It is part of five games on the day involving six teams.
