Miami University
North Dakota
Miami Earns Another Split Saturday
2/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Miami University softball team earned another split on Saturday at the indoor Total Control Sports Invite tournament. The RedHawks defeated North Dakota, 9-7, in the morning. They then fell to UIC, 6-0, in the evening. MU is now 2-2 on the season.
North Dakota struck for one run in the top of the first and two runs in the top of the second in the opener. The RedHawks offense was up to the task of answering as a double by junior outfielder Taylor Shuey scored senior outfielder Tiyona Marshall in the bottom of the first and a single to centerfield by Marshall scored senior third baseman Remy Edwards in the bottom of the second.
Trailing 3-2, the RedHawks used the long ball for three runs in the bottom of the third inning. With senior outfielder Bree Lipscomb on base, senior designated player Megan Mattera blasted a two-run home run to give Miami its first lead of the day. One batter later, freshman second baseman Kaitlyn Gliha hit her first career home run, a solo shot, to give the ‘Hawks a 5-3 advantage.
MU followed that big inning up with four more runs in the bottom of the fourth. A triple by Shuey scored Marshall. Lipscomb followed with a double to left field to score Shuey and make it 7-3. Mattera and freshman catcher Kat Lee each walked to load the bases. Gliha then drew another walk to force home Lipscomb. Edwards completed the RedHawks’ scoring with a single to left field that scored the pinch runner, junior outfielder Tanya Busby.
Sophomore pitcher Kelsey Fredericks got the start for the RedHawks and she gave way to junior pitcher Amber Logemann in the top of the second. Logemann kept North Dakota at bay until the top of the sixth inning, when it scored three runs on four hits and an error to pull within three at 9-6. ND was able to score one more in the top of the seventh, but Logemann recorded the final out to earn her first win of the season.
Shuey finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored, while Edwards was 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Marshall continued her hot start to the season with a 2-for-3 performance, finishing with one RBI and one run scored. Gliha was 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored.
The afternoon game against UIC was a pitcher’s duel between Edwards and the Flames’ Bridget Boyle. The two kept the game scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and two out, pinch-hitter Dana Capocci hit a single to right field to score two runs and put UIC on the board.
The Flames chased Edwards with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth and completed their scoring with two runs off Mattera in the bottom of the sixth. The RedHawks got a pair of baserunners in the final innings, but were unable to push them across.
Busby finished the nightcap 2-for-3. Marshall, Shuey and senior shortstop Kylie McChesney also had hits for Miami.
The RedHawks complete play at the Total Control Sports Invite on Sunday when they take on Loyola (Chi.) at 12:30 p.m. (EST).
