March 28, 2008

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OXFORD, Ohio--Miami University's softball team pounded out 13 runs off 14 hits to down the University of Akron Zips in the first game of a doubleheader in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams on Friday afternoon at Miami Softball Field.

The RedHawks moved to 9-14 on the season and 1-0 in MAC action, while the Zips dropped to 10-17 overall and 0-1 in league action.

A five-run first inning propelled Miami to a five-inning win, its second mercy-rule win of the season.

Halle Popson scored the RedHawks' first run, crossing home off an Akron throwing error in the following at-bat. With bases loaded, Alicia Hogl hit an RBI single to left field to score Christine Bills. Sarah Billstrom hit a sacrifice fly to left field, plating Breanna Robinson and leaving runners on second and third. Jenna McGivney belted a two-RBI double to right centerfield, which scored Hogl and Kathryn Russette, giving Miami an early 5-0 lead.

Akron scored one run in the top of the second when Katrina Moffett crossed home on a Kelsie Hansen RBI single to put the Zips within four runs, 5-1.

Miami, however, continued to pad its lead in the bottom of the second, scoring three runs off four hits. With Meghan Mawn on second base, Robinson blasted a two-run home run, her fifth home run of the season, to up the RedHawk lead to 7-1. The RedHawks tacked on one more run when Billstrom hit an RBI single through the left side to plate Russette, giving Miami an 8-1 advantage.

The Zips again scored one run in the top of the third inning off a Julie Boyes single to center field which allowed Lisa McLean to cross home, putting Akron within six runs, 8-2. Miami regained its seven-run advantage in the bottom of the inning when Mawn singled to right center, plating Alexis Javier to give the Red and White a 9-2 lead.

After a scoreless fourth inning for the Zips, Miami continued to add to its lead, scoring four runs off five hits. A passed ball allowed Russette to score her game-high third run of the game to give Miami a 10-2 lead. Javier singled through the left side to score Hogl, while a Bills two-RBI single up the middle allowed Popson and pinch runner Lindsay Randall to cross home to up the RedHawk lead to 13-2.

Akron tacked on one more run in the top of the fifth, but it was not enough as Miami collected a 13-3, five-inning win.

Pitcher Christina Swierz earned the loss for the Zips, dropping to 10-9 on the season. At the plate, Hansen went 2-for-2 with an RBI for the Zips, while Moffett was 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI.

Shalise Lugo improved to 4-7 on the season, pitching 5.0 innings for the RedHawks. She gave up three runs off eight hits, while striking out two en route to the win. Popson, Robinson, Russette, Mawn and Hogle had two hits apiece for the RedHawks.

Miami continues its Friday doubleheader with the Zips with the afternoon's second game at approximately 3 p.m.