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Miami's Two-Run Third Inning Holds Up, RedHawks Turn Back Herd 3-1 Tuesday
April 3, 2007
OXFORD, Ohio - Miami scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning, while holding Marshall to just two hits as the RedHawks held off the Thundering Herd 3-1 in game one Tuesday. Game two of the scheduled non-conference doubleheader was cancelled because of heavy thunderstorms in the area. Miami (12-25-1) starting pitcher Shalise Lugo (3-4) earned the victory, holding the Herd's mighty offense to one run on one hit in 5 1/3 innings, fanning five batters. Meredith Lynch nailed down her second save of the season, surrendering one hit in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Senior southpaw Abigail Harter (Monmouth, Ore./Santiam Christian) was dealt the loss, allowing three runs on six hits in six innings of work. Harter (11-9) matched Lugo, striking out five RedHawks. Sophomore J.J. Bitner (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) and junior Rachel Folden (Baldwin Park, Calif./Diamond Bar) were the only Marshall (22-17) batters to record a hit. Bitner, the Conference USA hits leader, went 1-for-3, while Folden went 1-for-2 with a solo home run. Four different Miami hitters registered a hit, including Christine Bills and Leslie Macedo with two hits each. After Lugo retired the Herd's first nine batters in order, Miami's offense came around in the home half of the third inning. With two outs, the RedHawks recorded three straight hits, concluding an RBI double by Macedo for a 1-0 Miami lead. The Herd then decided to intentionally walk Sarah Billstrom to load the bases. However, the gamble would backfire as Harter walked Kimberly Williams for a 2-0 lead. Harter exited the inning without additional damage, striking out Natalie Savona. Lugo then retired Marshall's first two batters to lead off the fourth inning before Folden snapped her early quest for a no-hitter. The junior catcher delivered Lugo's first pitch - a towering solo home run - to centerfield, cutting the Miami lead in half, 2-1.
With her 10th home run of the season, Folden became the first player in program history to hit 10 or more home runs in consecutive seasons. Miami, however, would regain a two-run lead, 3-1, in the sixth inning when Breanna Robinson sent a Harter delivery over the left field fence. The Marshall Thundering Herd returns home to host the Southern Miss Golden Eagles in Conference USA competition this weekend. Friday's doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. (ET) followed by a single game Saturday at 1 p.m. (ET).
Miami (Ohio) 3, Marshall 1 (04/03/07 at Oxford, Ohio) (Game 1) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Marshall............ 000 100 0 - 1 2 2 (22-17) Miami (Ohio)........ 002 001 X - 3 6 0 (12-25-1) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Marshall - Harter, Abigail. Miami (Ohio) - LUGO, Shalise; LINCH, Meredith(6). Win-LUGO, Shalise(3-4) Save-LINCH, Meredith(2) Loss-HARTER, Abigail(11-9) T-1:42 A-230 HR MARSHALL - Folden, Rachel (10). HR MIAMI - ROBINSON, Breanna. |
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