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RedHawks fall short in championship

Drew McDonnell, Staff Writer

The Miami University softball team opened up its season, competing in the Marriott Invitational in Orlando, Fla. and came out of the weekend with a 3-2 record.

The RedHawks put up a fight throughout the weekend, but fell to the University of Notre Dame 4-1 in the championship game.

"This weekend was exciting to get this group of athletes meshing together," Head Coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly said. "They were anxious to get out there and face someone other than our staff. We have some veterans that led this group."

The first game of the tournament, the Red and White defeated the University of Delaware 10-1.

Freshman Kayla Ledbetter earned her first career RBI when she singled home Jordan McElroy from second base.

In the top of the third, with McElroy on third and Daniela Torres on second, Ledbetter doubled to right center to once again score McElroy. Taylor Rice then put down a successful squeeze bunt that allowed Torres to score and make it 3-0 in favor of the RedHawks.

Delaware scored in the third inning to make it 3-1, but Miami did not give the Blue Hens much hope, scoring seven runs by the end of the fifth inning.

With Torres and Ledbetter on base, Rice hit a single that brought home Torres. Ledbetter made it 5-1 when she ran home on a passed ball. Delaware swapped out its pitcher, but couldn't stop the RedHawks.

Shannon Tillett singled up the middle to score McGivney, Kirstie Fehrenbach singled up the middle to score and Ashley Zappia and McElroy completed Miami's offense for the game by singling to right field to score Tillett and Fehrenbach.

"We played great defense for not having many chances to practice on dirt, and we also had some pretty good hitting," junior pitcher Jessica Simpson said. "I really liked what I saw from some of our freshmen as well. They're going to have a big impact this year."

The team later played Notre Dame, and the Fighting Irish took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. During the fifth inning, Rice singled up the middle. McGivney singled to left center to send Hernandez to second. Tillett then came up and hit a sharp single through the right side that scored both Hernandez and McGivney and gave the RedHawks a 2-1 lead. Miami did not keep the lead for long as Notre Dame earned two runs in the seventh inning, taking control of the game.

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The second day of the tournament was successful for the Red and White as they played the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Simpson pitched her first shutout of the season, while Zappia was able to score the game's only run.

The 'Hawks continued their busy weekend when they faced University of Central Florida. The RedHawks were able to squeeze in a final run during the fourth inning for the win.

With three wins and a loss, Miami earned a spot in the championship game against Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish struck first with single runs in each of the first two innings.

The game clincher came in the bottom of the fourth when Notre Dame hit a two-run homer to make it 4-1.

Miami scored its only run in the top of the fifth inning. Fehrenbach led off the frame with a double to left field, and McElroy hit down the right field line to bring her home.

Simpson kept the Irish off of the board the rest of the game, but the RedHawks could not score.

The Red and White will continue their early season Feb. 25 in Louisville, Ky. in the Red and Black Tournament.

Miami's opponents will include Wright State University, Boston University and Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.