Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
MIAMI (OH)
Miami Scores Late, Holds Off Later BGSU Comeback, 3-2
April 15, 2006 | Softball
April 15, 2006
OXFORD, Ohio - Host Miami University broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the sixth inning, and the Bowling Green State University softball team's comeback attempt fell just short, as the RedHawks downed the Falcons, 3-2, Saturday afternoon (April 15). The Mid-American Conference game was held at the Miami Softball Field.
With the win, the RedHawks improve to 16-27 overall and 3-8 in MAC play, while the Falcons fall to 25-16 and 8-3, respectively. BGSU remains in a first-place tie with Akron in the East Division, as the Zips fell to Kent State by a 2-0 count on Saturday.
The Falcons and RedHawks battled through five-and-a-half scoreless innings, as two freshmen, BG's Hayley Wiemer and MU's Kelly Cabana, combined to put zeroes on the board for the bulk of the afternoon.
In that sixth inning, however, the RedHawks' Leslie Macedo had a two-run single to put the hosts on the board, and another groundout produced a third run. The Falcons scored twice in the top of the seventh, and loaded the bases, but Cabana -- who has pitched every inning of all 11 MAC games -- was able to get the final out.
Wiemer allowed two hits over the first three innings, while Cabana issued a walk to Wiemer in the first inning and a free pass to senior Abby Habicht in the second, but did not let either runner advance past first.
In the Falcon half of the third, the RedHawks caught a break. Sophomore Dawnjene DeLong singled with one out, and Wiemer laid down a sacrifice bunt attempt. The Miami fielder's throw hit Wiemer's arm and skipped into rightfield, but the umpires, after a lengthy discussion, ruled that Wiemer was out of the baseline. Wiemer was ruled out and DeLong was forced to return to first base.
Senior Gina Rango singled on the next play, but instead of a potential one-out RBI hit, it put runners on first and second with two down. Cabana then got a strikeout to escape the threat.
Another Falcon threat was thwarted in the fifth. Junior Ashley Zirkle began the inning by hitting a 2-0 pitch to left-centerfield for a double, and junior Megan McPherson's sac bunt sent pinch-runner Emmy Ramsey to third base. But, Cabana got a grounder back to the circle, before inducing a fly ball that ended the half-inning.
Wiemer allowed just the two Miami hits through five innings, but the hosts would get on the scoreboard in the sixth. Ashley Nieman led off by beating out an infield grounder for a single, and one out later, an Alexis Javier fly ball was lost in the sun. The runners advanced a base each on a wild pitch, and Bianca Paz hit a grounder to shortstop with the BG infield playing in. The throw to first was off the mark, and Paz was safe to load the bases with one down.
The next hitter, Macedo, laced a single to right to plate a pair of runs. Brianna Robinson followed with another groundout that scored Paz with an unearned run. Robinson's grounder concluded a 12-pitch at-bat.
Senior Liz Vrabel entered the game in relief of Wiemer and needed just one pitch to get a Christine Bills popup for the third out.
The Falcons had one chance left, and very nearly came back. Habicht began the inning by reaching on a RedHawk error and taking second on a wild pitch. Then, the red-hot Zirkle doubled to right-center to score Habicht and cut the lead to 3-1.
Cabana then got a pair of groundouts, with Zirkle moving to third on the former and scoring on the latter. With two down and the bases empty, Wiemer singled to leftfield, and the RedHawks chose to intentionally walk Rango, moving the potential tying run to second base.
Following the intentional walk to Rango, Cabana issued another free pass -- unintentionally this time -- to freshman Desiree Miller, loading the bases. But, the MU hurler was able to get junior Allison Vallas to hit a grounder to first for the final out.
Cabana picked up the win, allowing no earned runs and six hits. She did issue four walks, and had two strikeouts in improving to 6-16.
Wiemer suffered the loss, surrendering three runs (two earned) and five hits before leaving with two outs in the sixth. Wiemer walked one batter and struck out four, but fell to 7-8. Vrabel, as mentioned, got one out with one pitch.
At the plate, Rango and Zirkle each went 2-for-3, with Zirkle scoring a run and driving in a run. DeLong and Wiemer had BG's other hits as the Falcons held a narrow 6-5 advantage in the hits department.
Nieman was 2-for-2 for the hosts, while Macedo had the big two-run single.
The teams will conclude the two-game series with a Sunday (April 16) contest that begins at 1:00 p.m.
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