March 20, 2005

Box Score

MARTIN, Tenn. - (Sunday, March 20, 2005) The Redhawks avoided a sweep by Ohio Valley Conference rival Tennessee-Martin with a 6-3 victory at Bettye Giles Field Sunday afternoon in Martin, Tennessee.

Despite the Skyhawks (15-7, 2-1 OVC) three homeruns early in the game, the Redhawks (10-8, 1-2 OVC) capitalized on errors and a few longballs of their own to win the final game in OVC series opener for both teams.

The Redhawks jumped on the Skyhawks early as right fielder Michelle Summers (Glendale, CA/Hoover) led off the game with a solo shot to left center off Allison Buckley for the quick 1-0 lead.

The Skyhawks answered in their half of the first with a solo shot of their own when Brandy Whalen hit a Amy Fahnestock (Ste. Genevieve, MO/Wabash CC) pitch over the left field fence to knot the game up at one run apiece.

The Redhawks manufactured another run in the second when Charlene Ramirez (Walnut, CA/Mt. San Antonio CC) reached on a fielder's choice and later scored on a Stephanie Mata (Wheeling, IL/Wheeling HS) single making it 2-1 in favor of the Redhawks.

The Skyhawks again tied the game in the bottom of the second when Emily Webb hit a solo homerun to right field.

The Skyhawks pulled ahead 3-2 in the fourth inning when Nicole Davis launched a Fahnestock pitch over the left field fence.

In the fifth Summers led-off the inning with her second homer of the game to again tie the game, this time at three apiece.

In the sixth the Redhawks took advantage of the Skyhawks carelessness as they scored three runs to pull ahead for good, 6-3.

After Lyndsey Webb (Las Vegas, NV/Las Vegas HS) walked to lead-off the inning, Ramirez reached on an error by Whalen and Webb moved to third. Mata singled to drive in Webb and then smartly advanced to second on the throw home.

Ramirez and Mata each scored on pass balls by the Skyhawks catcher to give the Redhawks a 6-3 lead.

Elaine Fisher (St. Peters, MO/Francis Howell North) and Stephanie Huffman (Valmayer, IL/Forest Park CC) did their part in halting the Skyhawks homerun derby as both combined to pitch 2.2 shutout innings allowing only three hits and most importantly walking zero Skyhawks.

Fisher picked up the win and Huffman was credited with the save.

Megan Mizell, who shutdown the Redhawks enroute to a perfect game in game two of Saturday's doubleheader, was credited with the loss as she gave up three runs in 1.2 innings pitched.

Summers went 2-4 with her two homers and two RBIs. Mata went a perfect 2-2 with two RBIs.

Victoria Torrez (Garden Grove, CA/Cypress CC) also went 2-4.

In the opening game of the series the Redhawks dropped a 5-2 decision as the Skyhawks scored four runs in the first to put the Redhawks in the hole early.

The Redhawks scored both of their runs in the fourth as Huffman scored on a wild pitch and Lindsay Pickering (St. Charles, MO/St. Charles West HS) scored on a Fahnestock single.

Freshman Megan McDonald (Cape Girardeau, MO/Cape Central) went 2-3 in game one and finished the series with three hits in ten at bats.

In game two the Skyhawks won 2-0 behind Mizell's perfect game. Huffman went the distance for the Redhawks allowing two runs and striking out three.

The Redhawks return home for two double-header series against non-conference opponents. On Tuesday, March 22 they take on Wright State and on Wednesday, March 23 they host Belmont. Both games will start at 2:00 p.m. at the Southeast Softball Complex