April 15, 2012
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami University softball team found itself on the wrong end of two slugfests against Ball State on Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals took the first game, 9-6, and scored three runs in the top of the seventh to come-from-behind and win the nightcap, 13-12. Miami falls to 25-14 overall and 6-4 in the Mid-American Conference. Ball State improves to 27-12 overall and 6-2 in the MAC.
The Cardinals came into the doubleheader as the best hitting team in the MAC and it showed. Ball State hit five home runs in the two games, including three by Jennifer Gilbert. They were able to overcome a couple of the best RedHawk offensive performances of the season.
After Ball State struck first in the opener with a run in the top of the second, Miami struck back with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Shanyn McIntyre led off with a single to center field. Jordan McElroy moved her up with a sacrifice bunt. Casey Drees started what would be a career day for her with a single up the middle to score McIntyre. Allie Larrabee followed with a single that moved up pinch-runner Ashley Zappia. A double by Kayla Ledbetter would bring home Zappia and put runners on second and third. A single through the left side by Kylie McChesney would bring home Larrabee and make it 3-1.
The RedHawks got single runs in three different innings after that. In the bottom of the third, Drees singled home Daniela Torres. In the bottom of the fifth Drees singled to right field to score McIntyre. In the bottom of the seventh McIntyre scored on a throwing error by the Cardinals catcher. Those runs would not be enough, as Ball State would put up three runs in both the third and fifth innings to take a 7-5 lead. The Cardinals would then add two insurance runs in the top of the seventh to put the contest out of reach.
Drees finished the opener 3-for-3 with three RBI. Larrabee was 3-for-4 with one run scored, while McIntyre was 2-for-4 with three runs scored.
The offenses continued to explode in the nightcap. After Ball State scored two in the top of the first, Miami answered right back with four in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Kristy Arbour singled to left field. Torres drew a walk and McIntyre followed with a single to load the bases with one out. A groundout by McElroy would get the RedHawks on the board. Drees followed with a double to left center that brought in two more runs and gave Miami the lead. Larrabee answered with a double to nearly the same place, scoring Drees and making it 4-2.
Miami made it 5-2 in the bottom of the second when McElroy drew a bases loaded walk. Ball State would respond with eight unanswered runs over the next three innings to take a 10-5 advantage as it seemed to be putting the game away.
Miami would fight back with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. McIntyre led off with her first career home run over the left field wall. Three batters later with Tiyona Marshall on third and Allie Larrabee on first and two outs, Larrabee got herself intentionally picked off. She was able to keep the Cardinal infielders from tagging her long enough to allow Marshall to score and make it 10-7.
After Katie Osburn held Ball State scoreless in the top of the sixth, Miami regained the lead with five runs in the bottom of the frame. McChesney led things off with a double that just missed going over the left field wall. Taylor Rice drew a walk, while an Arbour single loaded the bases with no one out. Torres drew a walk to force in a run and make it 10-8, while a McIntyre infield single brought home another and made it 10-9. McElroy grounded out to second base for the first out of the inning, but Arbour scored and tied the game at 10. Drees would follow with a squeeze bunt single that scored McIntyre and gave Miami the lead. On the play, the pitcher threw the ball away trying to get Drees at first, allowing Torres to also come home and make it 12-10.
In the top of the seventh, Ball State got its first two runners on via walks. Amanda Montalto would follow with a double to deep right center that pulled the Cardinals within one. Miami would bring in Jessica Simpson at that point, but a sacrifice fly and a groundout would allow both of the runners to come in and give the Cardinals the lead back at 13-12. Kim Mazzapica was able to retire the RedHawks in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.
Drees finished the nightcap, 2-for-3 with three RBI and one run scored. She had a total of six RBI in the doubleheader. McElroy had three RBI on the day on a walk and two groundouts. Arbour was 2-for-4 with three runs scored.
Miami steps out of conference for the final time during the regular season when it hosts Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
