Softball splits four games in Orlando

By Jordan Rinard, Senior Staff Writer

After a string of cancellations and postponements, Miami University softball finally saw the field this weekend and split its four games in the Citrus Classic in Orlando, Florida.

The RedHawks (7-4) downed Western Illinois University 7-0 Friday morning, before falling to Towson University 8-4 in the afternoon. Saturday began with a 3-1 loss to Mississippi State University, but ended on a high note with a 3-2 victory against Indiana University.

"It was a great weekend for us," head coach Clarisa Crowell said. "The girls did a good job of adjusting. We had issues with our flights and came down as four groups, and we weren't all here until four o'clock Friday morning. We did a great job of dealing with uncontrollable things."

Senior outfielder Bree Lipscomb reflected the sentiments of her coach.

"They were good team wins," Lipscomb said of the victories over Western Illinois and Indiana. "Against Mississippi State, we showed a lot of fight, and having that ability to fight will be big for us moving forward."

It was a stalemate against Western Illinois through the first three innings before Lipscomb singled a runner home in the fourth. The team exploded with six runs off six hits in the following inning with RBIs from senior outfielder Tiyona Marshall, junior pitcher/designated hitter Megan Mattera and senior catcher Shanyn McIntyre.

Junior pitcher Amber Logemann had a complete game shutout with three hits and 12 strikeouts.

Miami was down 6-0 after three innings against Towson until a two-run shot by Lipscomb gave Miami a late run in the fourth. The Tigers responded with runs of their own in the fifth and sixth, but the 'Hawks refused to quit as sophomore utility player Jenna Jones and sophomore second baseman Eryn McCarver drove in runners before the final out was recorded.

Mattera gave the team a chance to win in relief, as she allowed one earned run in 4 innings.

The Mississippi State matchup was a pitcher's duel, as each team garnered only two hits each on the morning. The Bulldogs struck in the third with two runs and added another in the fourth. The Red and White made a late push in the seventh after a Lipscomb home run.

Logemann allowed two hits in 5 innings, while Mattera allowed none in the final 2 innings.

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In the final game against Indiana, the Hoosiers scored in the third inning on a fielding error, but the RedHawks stormed back to take the lead in the fifth. Junior outfielder Tanya Busby scored on a fielding error and Shuey brought two runners in with a single to left field. IU showed signs of revival with a solo shot in the seventh, but Miami held on for the win.

Logemann totaled seven strikeouts and allowed one hit in 4.1 innings of relief.

"We did a great job in the first game with our pitching and our hitting," Crowell said. "We were right there with Mississippi State and played hard, but we didn't hit as well as we could have. Indiana was a big win for us, beating a Big Ten team and especially Indiana because they're so close. We're learning how to fight. We were competing and bringing a high energy level and didn't make excuses. It showed against Mississippi State, which is the best game we played all year in terms of playing hard … When we put everything together, we going to be a hard team to beat."

Miami competes in the Husky Classic this weekend when they take on Ohio State University, the University of Seattle three times and the University of Washington.