April 6, 2012
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Photo Gallery
OXFORD, Ohio - Two terrific pitching performances highlighted a doubleheader sweep over Akron for the Miami University softball team on Friday. The RedHawks defeated the Zips 4-0 in the opener and 5-0 in the nightcap, allowing only four total hits in each game. Miami improves to 21-12 overall and 4-2 in the Mid-American Conference. Akron is 13-20-1 overall and 0-6 in the MAC.
Jessica Simpson kept the Zips off the board in the opener. She only got into trouble once, loading the bases in the top of the fifth off a double, a single and a walk. There were two outs at the time, and she quickly ended the threat by striking out the next batter. Simpson finished with 10 strikeouts to improve her record to 13-10 on the season.
Miami struck first with single runs in each of the first two innings. In the bottom of the first, Kirstie Fehrenbach got the RedHawks on the board when she scored off a wild pitch. In the bottom of the second with one out, Kayla Ledbetter singled to left field. The ball got past the left fielder and went all the way to the fence, allowing Brandi Hernandez to score all the way from first.
In the bottom of the fourth, Allie Larrabee reached second base on another fielding error by the left fielder. She was replaced by pinch-runner Ashley Zappia. Megan Mattera followed with a single up the middle that brought Zappia home and made it 3-0. The Red and White completed their scoring in the bottom of the fifth when a fielding error by the shortstop allowed Kristy Arbour to score.
Mattera finished the opener 2-for-2 with one RBI and one walk. Arbour was 2-for-4 with one run scored.
Paige Myers was similarly in control of Akron in the nightcap. She allowed only four hits the entire game and did not allow a runner to reach third base the entire game. She finished with four strikeouts.
The RedHawks opened their scoring with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, Jordan McElroy put down a perfect bunt that she beat out for a single. Two batters later, Mattera doubled to center field to bring her home. Kayla Ledbetter followed with a double to right field to bring home Mattera and make it 2-0. The RedHawks made it 3-0 the following inning when a McElroy single would score Arbour.
In the bottom of the fourth, Fehrenbach singled to second base with one out. Arbour singled up the middle, while Daniela Torres followed with a single to left field. Fehrenbach appeared to score on the play, but Akron appealed and she was called out for not touching third base. Shanyn McIntyre would follow with a single to center field to load the bases. The next two batters, McElroy and Casey Drees would each draw walks to bring in two more runs and complete Miami's scoring.
Arbour finished the second game 3-for-4 with two runs scored. McElroy was 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored. Ledbetter was 2-for-3 with one RBI.
Miami continues MAC play at home when it welcomes Ohio to Oxford for single games on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
