Miami University
Kent State ** New Time
RedHawks Down Golden Flashes, 4-1
4/28/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 28, 2012
KENT, Ohio--Three home runs resulted in all five of the game's scores as the Miami University softball team topped host Kent State University on Saturday afternoon, 4-1. The RedHawks improve to 31-16 on the season and 12-5 in Mid-American Conference play to move one game ahead of KSU (26-23; 11-6 MAC) in the league race.
With two outs in the opening inning, freshman leftfielder Shanyn McIntyre drilled a solo shot over the left field fence to hand Miami a quick 1-0 lead. With a runner on third in the bottom of the second inning, the Golden Flashes threatened to knot the game, but senior pitcher Jessica Simpson hurled one of her seven strikeouts for the game to end the inning and keep KSU scoreless.
Kent State evened the game when shortstop Alex Marcantonio homered to right center in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 1-1. It ended a streak of 46.1 innings in which Simpson had not given up an earned run.
But Miami fired right back in the top of the sixth. McIntyre and senior third baseman Daniela Torres were both walked to start the inning, before sophomore catcher Kayla Ledbetter stepped to the plate and blasted a three-run home run over the center field fence to give the RedHawks a 4-1 advantage. Miami held the Golden Flashes scoreless over the remainder of the game to capture the win.
The RedHawks' four runs came off six hits. McIntyre finished the game going 1-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, while Ledbetter was 1-for-1 with a run and three RBI. Simpson pitched a complete game and gave up one run off four hits, while striking out seven and walking none. She moves to 22-12 on the season and pitched her 23rd complete game.
Miami rounds out its weekend with a 1 p.m. game at Kent State on Sunday.
