SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Miami University’s softball team closed out the 15th annual National Invitational Softball Tournament with a 2-4 record following Saturday afternoon’s action. The Red and White defeated the University of California at Santa Barbara in its first game, but then fell to Sacramento State and Santa Clara University in games two and three.

The RedHawks, who now at 5-8 on the season, started the day off by defeating the University of California at Santa Barbara 2-1. Catcher Nicki Pelfrey (Fremont, Ohio/Fremont Ross) and Kristina Mortaloni (Ranchos Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes Peninsula) led the RedHawks finishing with two hits each, and Mortaloni also added one RBI.

Pitcher Amber Arnold (Dana Point, Calif./St. Margaret’s) earned her third win of the season after throwing a complete game four-hitter, while striking out five Santa Barbara batters.

Game two on the day did not go like Miami would have liked. Sacramento State got a run in the first inning and never looked back. Pitcher Nicole Deatherage of Sacramento State stranded on two Miami hits to help lead her team to a 4-0 win.

Pelfrey and second baseman Jessica Zogaib (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) were the only Miami players that were able to muster up a hit. One of the key statistics against Miami was that the RedHawks left six players stranded on base.

In Miami’s final game of the tournament, the Red and White tried to make a seventh inning comeback cutting the score to 2-1 against Santa Clara, but it was not able to get any closer.

Head coach Angie Jacobs squad out-hit Santa Clara 8-2 for the game, but was not able to get any runs across the plate before the seventh inning. Pelfrey continued her tear in the tournament having two more hits in the final game.

Miami continues its California swing at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, when it plays San Jose State, who the RedHawks defeated 2-1 on Friday, in a doubleheader.

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