April 8, 2012
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami University softball team made it a perfect weekend with a dramatic come-from-behind, 8-7, victory over Ohio in 11 innings on Sunday. The RedHawks improve to 23-12 overall and 6-2 in the Mid-American Conference. The Bobcats fall to 15-18 overall and 4-4 in the MAC.
Jessica Simpson earned the victory in relief for Miami. It improved her record to 15-10 on the season and 85-53 for her career. Already the Red and White's all-time career win's leader, her 85th victory ties her with Ball State's Elizabeth Milian and Kent State's Kylie Reynolds for the MAC career record in wins.
It did not start out well for the RedHawks as the Bobcats scored three runs in the top of the first off of starter Paige Myers. Simpson came in with two outs in the frame and was able to record a groundout to prevent any further damage in the inning.
Miami fought right back to take the lead with four runs in the bottom of the first. With one out, Kristy Arbour walked. Daniela Torres and Shanyn McIntyre followed with singles to load the bases. Jordan McElroy came up and smashed a single to left center that brought home Arbour and Torres and cut the deficit to 3-2. After an out, Kayla Ledbetter was hit by a pitch to reload the bases. Allie Larrabee would then single to left field scoring McIntyre. The Ohio catcher would mishandle the ball, allowing McElroy to come around and give the RedHawks a 4-3 lead.
After the Bobcats tied the game at four in the top of the third, Miami would score two in the bottom of the frame. With McIntyre and Megan Mattera on the bases and one out, Ledbetter would hit a single through the left side to score McIntyre. Mattera would then be lifted for pinch-runner Ashley Zappia. Larrabee would record her second RBI of the day when she singled through the right side to score Zappia and make it 6-4.
Ohio would put in its ace Lauren McClary at that point, and she would stall the RedHawk offense for the next three innings. The Bobcats would get a run closer on a solo home run in the top of the sixth, and they took the lead off a couple of singles and an error with two runs in the top of the seventh.
Trailing 7-6 in the bottom of the seventh, Ledbetter led off with a walk. She was replaced by pinch-runner Brandi Hernandez. Larrabee moved Hernandez over to second with a sacrifice bunt. Casey Dress would pinch-hit, and she got on after being hit by a pitch. Remy Edwards would then pinch run for her. A groundout by Kirstie Fehrenbach moved both runners up a base. Arbour would follow with a single up the middle that brought home Hernandez and tied the score at seven. Miami would eventually reload the bases, but would be unable to get the winning run across.
Simpson took control of the Bobcats during the extra frames. Ohio would be unable to advance a runner past second base in each of the next four innings. The RedHawks were able to load the bases in the bottom of the eighth and had a scoring threat in the bottom of the 10th, but each time were unable to get the winning run across.
Fehrenbach led off the bottom of the 11th with an infield single to shortstop. Arbour followed with a sacrifice bunt towards third base. The third baseman tried to get the lead runner and second, but Fehrenbach slid in safely. Torres would draw a walk to load the bases with no one out. McIntyre was up next. She connected with a McClary pitch and sent it deep to left field for the flyout. Fehrenbach tagged up from third base and was easily able to score on the sacrifice to give Miami an 8-7 win.
Larrabee finished the day 3-for-4 with two RBI. McIntyre was 2-for-5 with one RBI and two runs scored. McElroy was 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. As a team, Miami drew 12 walks on the day.
In earning her historic victory, Simpson threw 10.1 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on 10 hits, while striking out nine.
The RedHawks will step out of conference play on Thursday when they travel to Morehead State for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
