Miami University
USF
Softball Upsets 23rd-Ranked USF, 2-1, in Eight Innings
3/4/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 4, 2012
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Some timely hits and a great tag-team pitching performance from Paige Myers and Jessica Simpson led the Miami University softball team to a 2-1 upset victory over 23rd-ranked USF Sunday in eight innings. The game completed play at the Under Armour Invitational and was the third straight game the RedHawks had gone to extra innings in. Miami improves to 10-4 on the season, while the Bulls fall to 13-4.
The Red and White got on the board right away in the top of the first inning. A leadoff infield single from Kirstie Fehrenbach started things off. Tiyona Marshall moved her up to second on a groundout. A single up the middle by Bree Lipscomb would bring Fehrenbach home and make it 1-0.
Meanwhile Myers was dominant in the circle. She did not allow a hit to USF until the bottom of the fourth inning. In that frame with two outs, an error in the outfield put a runner on second base. A wild pitch would move her over to second. The first hit of the game for USF, a single up the middle, would bring her home and tie the score at one.
After recording the first out in the bottom of the sixth, Myers gave up a single to put a runner on. Simpson would come into relieve her and quickly gave up two more singles to load the bases with only one out. Simpson bore down and would force the next Bull hitter into a fielder's choice as the RedHawks got the runner at home. The next batter popped up to second base ending the threat.
In the top of the eighth, Miami started the inning by placing Remy Edwards on second base as part of the international tiebreaker rule. Fehrenbach would sacrifice her over to third base with a bunt. After a strikeout, Lipscomb was hit by a pitch. Allie Larrabee was up next, and she singled to left field to bring home Edwards and make it 2-1.
In the bottom of the inning, USF would quickly sacrifice bunt its runner over to third base. Simpson would strike out the next Bull hitter. She would secure the victory for the Red and White by inducing the following batter into a popup.
Simpson earned the victory after pitching the final 2.2 innings of the contest. It was her 75th career win, leaving her 10 short of tying the Mid-American Conference career record. She allowed three hits and struck out three. Myers went 5.1 innings, allowing no earned runs on only two hits and striking out three.
Fehrenbach finished the game 1-for-3 with one run scored, while Larrabee was 1-for-4 with one RBI.
Miami will remain in the Clearwater, Fla. area during the duration of spring break. Next up is a special exhibition contest against the Dutch National Team on Tuesday at 5 p.m. The RedHawks will then take on Penn State on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
