May 4, 2012
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami University softball team split a doubleheader with Bowling Green on Friday afternoon. The RedHawks won their seventh straight in the opener, coming out on top, 3-2. The winning streak came to an end in the nightcap, however, as the Falcons earned a 3-1 victory. Miami is now 33-17 overall and 14-6 in the Mid-American Conference. Bowling Green is 35-18 overall and 15-5 in the MAC.
In the opener, the Falcons got to Jessica Simpson early with two runs in the top of the first. Miami fought right back with a run in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Jordan McElroy singled to the shortstop. A Shanyn McIntyre single through the left side moved McElroy to second base. Daniela Torres reached on a fielder's choice ground out, McIntyre was retired at second while McElroy moved up to third. Kayla Ledbetter would follow with a single through the right side that scored McElroy and made it 2-1.
It remained that way until the bottom of the third. McElroy led off with a double to center field. McIntyre followed with a double to nearly the same spot to score McElroy. Torres would then single to left center to bring home McIntyre and give the RedHawks their first lead at 3-2.
That would be all Simpson would need. She got into trouble during the first four innings, as the Falcons would get at least two base runners in each frame. Each time, she would leave them stranded. Simpson retired Bowling Green in order in the fifth and sixth innings. She gave up a one-out double in the top of the seventh, but recorded a ground out and strikeout to leave the runner stranded at third and give Miami the victory. She earned her 24th victory of the season, allowing two earned runs on nine hits while striking out 12.
McElroy finished the opener 2-for-3 with two runs scored. McIntyre was 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.
Just like the opener, Bowling Green recorded two runs in the top of the first in the nightcap, this time off starter Katie Osburn. And once again, the RedHawks would answer with a run in the bottom of the frame. Kristy Arbour led things off with a single to center field. McElroy moved her over with a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Kayla Ledbetter singled down the left field line to bring Arbour home and make it 2-1.
That would be all the RedHawks would be able to manage offensively. They loaded the bases in the fourth inning, but were unable to bring home a run.
A rain shower hit after the fourth inning was over causing a 48-minute delay. Once play resumed, the Falcons scored a run in the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the seventh, McElroy walked and Torres singled to third base to give Miami runners on first and second with only one out, but a good play on a grounder by Kayla Ledbetter by Bowling Green's third baseman would result in an inning-ending double play.
All nine starters for the RedHawks had one hit each in the nightcap. Torres drew a walk, which was the 83rd of her career and makes her Miami's all-time leader in that category.
The RedHawks remain one game behind the Falcons in the quest for both a MAC East Division crown and earning the second seed in the upcoming MAC Tournament (they have secured no worse than the third seed). While Bowling Green moves on to face Ball State in a weekend series, Miami will welcome Toledo to Oxford for two games. It begins on Saturday when the RedHawks face the Rockets at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The special start time is due to graduation ceremonies at Yager Stadium earlier in the day.
