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March 10, 2008
Charlotte, N.C. - Miami closed out the 49er Invitational on a high note, winning both of its contests during the final day of the tournament hosted by Charlotte, knocking off North Florida in the first game by a 5-3 score, and beating the 49ers in game two, 6-5.
The RedHawks offense was once again powered by senior captain Halle Popson, who reached base in seven of her 10 trips to the plate in Sunday's action. With five singles and eight walks, Popson finished the weekend with a .722 on-base percentage. She also added two stolen bases in three attempts. Popson is now hitting .423 in 14 games for the RedHawks this season.
Sophomore infielder Sarah Billstrom raised her batting average 97 points with six hits during the tournament, including four on Sunday, tying her with freshman Meghan Mawn for the most hits on the team during the four-game invitational.
Freshman catcher Jenna McGivney also saw a significant increase in her batting average after a five-hit weekend, moving her average from .214 to .286. McGivney had a stellar weekend defensively behind the plate as well, cutting down two of three baserunners attempting to steal. For the season, McGivney has stopped 59 percent (10 of 17) of players trying to steal on her.
In the first game of the day, Miami had to overcome a three-run deficit to earn the 5-3 come-from-behind victory over North Florida.
After being held to just four hits through the first four innings of play, the RedHawks broke through in the top half of the fourth, sending nine players to the plate, and pushing three runs across to tie the game at 3-3.
Senior Breanna Robinson put the Red and White ahead, 4-3, in the sixth inning, when she executed a squeeze bunt that plated Popson from third base.
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Outfielder Alicia Hogl secured the win for Miami with an insurance run in the sixth inning, walking with the bases loaded to force home Kimberly Williams.
The RedHawks had to play catch-up in game two against host Charlotte, as the team came back from three runs down again, beating the 49ers, 6-5.
After the two teams exchanged runs in the first inning, Charlotte put up three runs in the top of the third inning to take a 4-1 lead.
Miami started to chip away at the Niners' lead in the bottom half of the fourth inning, as the team pushed two runs across on a Meghan Mawn single to right field that scored Sarah Billstrom, and a wild pitch that allowed Kimberly Williams to come home.
The RedHawks took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Alexis Javier hit a sacrifice fly to right field to send Alicia Hogl home, scoring the team's fifth run of the game. Charlotte tied the game in its half of the seventh inning, but Breanna Robinson sealed the game for Miami with a sacrifice that drove in Halle Popson, earning the 6-5 win over the 49ers.
Miami will now head to Louisville, Ky. for the University of Louisville tournament, including Louisville, Michigan and Minnesota. The tournament is scheduled for March 14-16.
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