The Miami University softball team used dominant pitching to complete a perfect weekend April 10 to 12, winning two games each versus the University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University.
Freshman pitcher Jessica Simpson took the mound in the three of the four games, and she was nearly unhittable each time out.
"We had a team meeting before our trip about playing with a lot of heart and winning the MAC," Simpson said. "I think that helped me a lot, and also the fact that I knew my teammates were all ready to go. I knew they would have my back, and that really helped me perform."
Simpson was electric in the first game of the weekend against Toledo. She allowed just two hits in seven innings for a complete game shutout. Simpson didn't allow a single ball to leave the infield until the Rockets hit a double in the bottom of the seventh.
"Jessica really had a nice break last week, some time off, and she's showed that as a freshman she needs a break occasionally," head coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly said. "We are playing really good defense behind her, which is always the key."
The 'Hawks won game one versus Toledo 5-0 on the strength of two RBIs from freshman right fielder Jordan McElroy, who went two for three. McElroy scored the first run of the game in the top of the first as she scored on a passed ball. That run proved to be all the RedHawks would need, thanks to Simpson's dominance.
The second game against Toledo saw junior Meredith Linch on the mound. She followed in Simpson's footsteps, putting in a solid game. She also allowed just two hits in a complete game shutout, as Miami won 9-0 in five innings.
The RedHawks led just 3-0 heading into the fifth inning, but they found their groove in the top of the fifth as they racked up six runs. Five different 'Hawks drove in runs in the fifth, highlighted by freshman pinch-hitter Lauren Odom finishing the scoring with a two-run single.
Following the games, Schoenly praised the RedHawk offense, namely junior shortstop Sarah Billstrom and sophomore catcher Jenna McGivney.
"We have some players who are really stepping up to carry the load at the end of the year," Schoenly said. "Billstrom has really stepped up, and McGivney has been even better than last year. We have those two in the middle of the order, and everyone else around them complements them."
Miami continued to play solid softball in the first game versus Bowling Green, winning a tight one 1-0. The Red and White were only able to muster two hits, but once again Simpson put in a masterful performance on the mound. She struck out a career-high 14 batters and allowed just five hits en route to a complete game shutout.
The 'Hawks only managed two hits themselves, but that was enough to come out on top. Miami scored its only run in the third off three errors by the Falcons, allowing junior infielder Lindsay Randall to score the game's only run.
In the final game of the series, Simpson was once again on the mound against Bowling Green. She picked up her third win of the weekend with a 7-1 victory.
She allowed just four hits, and the only run allowed over the weekend by Miami pitching came when junior left fielder Susan Sontag hit a solo home run in the sixth inning.
"(Pitching) is going to be very important going forward because I need to really pull through in the end here," Simpson said. "I need to win a lot of games so we have a good chance in the MAC tournament."
Miami broke open the game in the sixth inning by getting five runs on the board. Four Bowling Green errors in the inning helped Miami pull away. The coup de grâce came when Billstrom hit a double, her second of the game, scoring both sophomore infielder Meghan Mawn and McElroy.
Even with the solid weekend performance, Schoenly said she feels the team has yet to play its best ball this season.
"I feel like our best is still developing," Schoenly said. "These last couple weeks are going to be really big for Miami softball."
Next up for Miami is a non-conference doubleheader against Marshall University at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
