2008 Woodie Awards
RedHawks begin MAC schedule with a slam
Erika Hadley
Issue date: 4/1/08 Section: Sports
The Miami University softball team established itself as a dominant force in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) with an incredible grand slam off the bat of senior leftfielder Christine Bills. Posting back-to-back double-header sweeps this weekend over the University of Akron and Ohio University, the team improved its MAC record to 4-0 on the season.
Down 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning in Saturday's nightcap against Ohio, the RedHawks looked to light up their side of the scoreboard. A double by freshman catcher Jenna McGivney with a runner on second did just that, but the 'Hawks were not done there.
A hit batter and an intentional walk quickly loaded the bases as Miami threatened to bust the game wide open. Bills, last week's MAC East Player of the Week, stepped up to the plate and drilled the ball down the left-field line during the fifth inning for a grand slam to put the RedHawks in the lead for good.
"Definitely, (Christine's) grand slam during the second game was incredible," said senior first baseman Halle Popson. "There's been some clutch hitting."
The timely team effort by Bills and McGivney highlighted the squad's impressive depth and talent.
"All the way down through the order, people have been (giving) good performances - whether it's a senior coming up big, or a freshman, like our catcher Jenna McGivney, coming up with a double," Popson said. "We especially have a huge offense all the way down the order."
Before Saturday's fireworks, Miami kicked off its MAC schedule and the with an impressive 13-3 mercy-rule win against the Zips to open the weekend. The RedHawks took no time getting started, jumping out to a five-run lead after taking advantage of a few Akron throwing errors. The crooked number in the first was just the beginning as Miami exploded for a total of 14 hits in five innings before the game was stopped by the mercy rule.
Later that day, the RedHawks finished their sweep of the Zips with a 4-1 victory. Sophomore Meredith Linch pitched a complete game and gave up just one run off two hits while striking out six hitters for Miami.
Down 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning in Saturday's nightcap against Ohio, the RedHawks looked to light up their side of the scoreboard. A double by freshman catcher Jenna McGivney with a runner on second did just that, but the 'Hawks were not done there.
A hit batter and an intentional walk quickly loaded the bases as Miami threatened to bust the game wide open. Bills, last week's MAC East Player of the Week, stepped up to the plate and drilled the ball down the left-field line during the fifth inning for a grand slam to put the RedHawks in the lead for good.
"Definitely, (Christine's) grand slam during the second game was incredible," said senior first baseman Halle Popson. "There's been some clutch hitting."
The timely team effort by Bills and McGivney highlighted the squad's impressive depth and talent.
"All the way down through the order, people have been (giving) good performances - whether it's a senior coming up big, or a freshman, like our catcher Jenna McGivney, coming up with a double," Popson said. "We especially have a huge offense all the way down the order."
Before Saturday's fireworks, Miami kicked off its MAC schedule and the with an impressive 13-3 mercy-rule win against the Zips to open the weekend. The RedHawks took no time getting started, jumping out to a five-run lead after taking advantage of a few Akron throwing errors. The crooked number in the first was just the beginning as Miami exploded for a total of 14 hits in five innings before the game was stopped by the mercy rule.
Later that day, the RedHawks finished their sweep of the Zips with a 4-1 victory. Sophomore Meredith Linch pitched a complete game and gave up just one run off two hits while striking out six hitters for Miami.
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