March 22, 2008

Box Score

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - (Saturday, March 22, 2008) The Redhawks softball team battled preseason Ohio Valley Conference favorite Tennessee Tech to a standstill in regulation play but couldn't get the upperhand in extra innings and eventually fell 3-2 in a marathon 12-inning game at Tech Softball field on Saturday afternoon. The series finale loss spoiled yet another pitching gem by senior Elaine Fisher (St. Peters, MO/Francis Howell North) who tossed a season-high 10 innings.

Fisher and her Golden Eagles (17-16-1, 3-2 OVC) counterpart Sarah Street shutdown their respective opponent's bats. The Redhawks (11-16, 1-5 OVC) got on the scoreboard first in the top of the sixth.

Allie Borowiak (Nashville, IL/John A. Logan CC) led off the inning with a single to right center. Michelle Summers (Glendale, CA/Hoover) pushed her to second on a well-placed sacrifice bunt. Jennifer Vasquez (Placentia, CA/El Dorado) then doubled to center plating Borowiak and forcing Street out of the game.

With a runner in scoring position and only one out Tech reliever Meghan Maynard retired Megan McDonald (Cape Girardeau, MO/Cape Central) with a flyout and Stacia Dopudja (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA/Santa Margarita Catholic) with a foul pop-up.

Tech got that run back in their half of the sixth as Fisher plunked Katie Betry to start the inning. She moved to second on Stephanie Fischer's single up the middle. Amanda Glover moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Betry then scored on a fielder's choice but Tech wound up stranding two runners in scoring position as the team's ended regulation play knotted at one run apiece.

The first three innings of extra frames were scoreless as neither team could capitalize on scoring opportunities. Tech had the best chance in the 10th as they loaded the bases with one out. Fisher reentered the game and replaced Whitney Dupuis (Sulphur, LA/Sulphur), who had come in the ninth, and got the last two outs to keep the score at 1-1.

In the 11th the Redhawks placed Vasquez at second base per softball extra innings rules. McDonald then doubled to right field to drive in Vasquez and give the Redhawks the lead, 2-1. However the Redhawks couldn't capitalize anymore that inning as they stranded McDonald at third.

The Golden Eagles answered with a run of their own in their half of the 11th off the bat of Beth Boden who drove in Kristyn Castonzo with a single through the left side.

In the 12th the Redhawks placed Katie Otterness (Schaumburg, IL/Hoffman Estates) at second and she eventually moved to third on a passed ball. But with two outs Maddi Schmissrauter got Summers to fly out to deep center to end the Redhawks threat.

The Golden Eagles placed Katie Speiser on second to start their half of the 12th. Betry moved her over with a sacrifice bunt. After the Redhawks intentionally walked the dangerous Fischer, Amanda Glover made them pay with a single that scored Speiser and ended the game.

It was the third extra inning game of the season for the Redhawks and they fell to 0-3 in those contests.

Fisher (6-11) got the tough-luck loss as she allowed three runs (only one that was earned) on nine hits. She struckout three and walked three.

Dupuis pitched 1.1 innings of shutout relief for the Redhawks, striking out two Golden Eagles.

Schmissrauter (5-5) got credit for the win in relief as she allowed one run on four hits in 5.2 innings.

Three Redhawks finished with multi-hit games led by Vasquez who recorded her sixth such game of the season with a 2-5 day. A double, one run scored and a RBI highlighted her day.

Lauren Bradley (Overland Park, KS/Shawnee Mission South) and Alex Ramirez (Corona, CA/El Modena) also went 2-5. Bradley extended her hitting streak to four games.

The Redhawks series against Tech concluded a tough stretch of softball for the team as they played 15 road games in 16 days. They return home to face OVC opponent Eastern Illinois for an afternoon doubleheader at the Southeast Softball Complex on Tuesday, March 25. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.