April 28, 2005

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REDHAWK STORYLINES

1. CLOSING OUT THE MAC SEASON: The RedHawks host Ball State this weekend to end conference play. With 12 conference wins, the 2005 team is tied for fourth all-time at Miami.

2. A FOND FAREWELL: In its 22nd season, Miami Softball Field hosts its final games this weekend. The RedHawks move into their new stadium on the opposite side of football's Yager Stadium for the 2006 season.

3. MAC TOURNAMENT: Miami clinched a spot in the eight-team MAC Tournament with its win over Central Michigan on Wednesday. The RedHawks project into the third seed heading into the Ball State weekend as Miami is 1 1/2 games ahead of Buffalo in fourth and three games behind Marshall for the MAC East lead.

LAST TIME AGAINST BALL STATE: Miami split a doubleheader with Ball State on April 2, 2003 in Muncie, Ind., dropping the first game, 3-2, but winning the second game, 6-5.

With the bases loaded in the first inning of the opening game, Becca Garcia came through in the clutch by singling to center to score Jamie Carey and Jessica Zogaib and give Miami a 2-0 lead after the first inning.

Ball State got one run back in the second when Ruth Hjelmeland singled to lead off the inning, was sacrificed to second and then scored on a Jodi Willis single down the right field line.

The score stayed at 2-1 until the sixth when Katie Shea, who has the second highest batting average in the Mid-American Conference, hit a two-run homerun over the centerfield wall with the wind blowing out.

Although Miami out-hit Ball State 9-5, the RedHawks were unable to recover from the late rally by the Cardinals. Miami left eight runners on base and squandered a five-hit, three-run pitching performance out of Courtney Salmon.

The second game looked much like the first through six innings. The RedHawks got out to an early 2-0 lead when Angie Gerber led off the third inning with a walk. After a Garcia double and an out, Jackie Poggendorf singled to center to score both RedHawk runners.

Miami added to the lead in the fourth inning when Jacque Molinaro singled to lead off the fourth and advanced to second on a Carey walk. Both runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Zogaib. Gerber added the next run when she singled in Molinaro to give Miami a 3-0 advantage through the top of the fourth.

In the bottom half, Shea earned the first hit of the game for Ball State when she hit her second home run of the day over the right field wall.

Just like the first game, Ball State took the lead in the bottom of the sixth on a home run. With two outs, Kris Burdine singled and advanced to third on an error in right field. Mandy Snyder brought Burdine home on another Miami error. After a Shea single, Hjelmeland homered to bring three Cardinal runners home and take a 5-4 lead.

The RedHawks fought back in the top of the seventh after Sarah Buffie was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Poggendorf doubled to centerfield to put two runners in scoring position. Keri McCready reached on an error by the pitcher which knotted the scored at 5-5. Poggendorf scored the game-winner when Molinaro singled down the right field line.

Poggendorf earned her second straight win and her third of the year with Salmon taking home her first save of her collegiate career. Poggendorf went 5-for-7 with two runs scored on the day while Carey hit 3-for-6 from the dish with one run scored.

2005 GAME NOTES

REDHAWKS SPLIT WITH CHIPPEWAS: Things started off well for Miami on Wednesday, with the RedHawks pushing two across in the first inning and Jackie Poggendorf perfect through four innings in the circle. But in the fifth, Central Michigan got three runs and added another in the sixth, keeping Miami off the board after its two early scores for a 4-2 win. But the RedHawks shook it off and performed well in game two as Courtney Salmon took a shutout into the seventh inning and allowed only an unearned run as the RedHawks won, 3-1. Christine Bills' was Miami's clutch hitter in game two, going 3-for-4 with a two-RBI single in the fifth that proved to be the difference maker.

A LOOK AT THE MAC TOURNAMENT: Miami stands in the third spot after Wednesday's doubleheader, a game and a half ahead of Buffalo in fourth and three games back of Marshall for the MAC East lead and top overall seed. The RedHawks are only one game behind Central Michigan, the MAC West leader, but the Chippewas would take the second seed by virtue of their division title even if Miami were to catch CMU.

SENIOR DAY: Five seniors and one junior will be honored Saturday before Miami's doubleheader with Ball State. Sarah Buffie, Allison Maxey, Keri McCready, Chelsie McWhorter and Jackie Poggendorf are the five seniors, and junior Casey Ruberg is the sixth member of Miami's graduating class, earning her degree in just three years.

A REASON TO SMILE: Freshman Christine Bills, called "Smiley" by her fellow RedHawks, is Miami's top hitter in MAC games among regular starters, carrying a .327 average while starting all 18 of Miami's Mid-American Conference games. Bills was Miami's only batter with multiple hits in either of the two games against Central Michigan on Wednesday with her 3-for-4 effort in the nightcap. It was her first multiple-hit effort since April 9 against Marshall--when she went 2-for-3--and the last time her overall batting average was over .300. The rookie is nearing that mark again, hitting .296 overall.

POGGENDORF'S STREAKS SNAPPED: Senior Jackie Poggendorf allowed four earned runs in the opener against Central Michigan on Wednesday, remarkable because they were her first runs, earned or unearned, since April 10 against Marshall, a span of 43 innings. It was also her first loss since that game against the Thundering Herd, ending a string of six straight wins.

MULTI-TALENTED: Jackie Poggendorf's talents on the softball field extend beyond the circle. The senior is Miami's leading hitter at .340, she also leads the team with 27 runs scored, 15 doubles, 64 total bases, 15 walks and eight sacrifice hits. Her 49 hits,15 RBI and 10 stolen bases are all second on the team.

STRIKEOUT MANIA: With the single-season individual and team strikeout records already broken, Miami's pitching staff has a shot at the MAC record. With 353 strikeouts so far this season--compared to just 208 on the offensive end--the 2005 RedHawks are sixth on the all-time single-season MAC list with third just 11 strikeouts away. The MAC record is 413 by Central Michigan in 413. Miami has also allowed only 69 walks this year compared to those 353 Ks.

A ONE-TWO PUNCH: It's a pick-your-poison situation for Miami's opponents when it comes to who is in the circle. While Jackie Poggendorf's 43-inning scoreless streak just ended, Courtney Salmon has thrown 19 innings without an earned run, dropping her ERA to a season-low 2.05.

BRINGING THE "D": Entering the week, Miami was ranked 17th in Division I in fielding percentage with a clip of .972. Against CMU, the team made two errors in 55 chances.

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES: In its 22nd season, Miami Softball Field is just three games from seeing its last contest on the northeast side of football's Yager Stadium. The softball RedHawks move next year to a brand new stadium next year, located off the southeast corner of the football facility and just north of Millett Hall. The new facility features fixed seats and permanent press facilities, making it among the finest facilties in the Midwest.