May 3, 2005

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REDHAWK STORYLINES

1. THE BIG 3-0: With Saturday's win over Ball State, Miami reached the 30-win mark for only the third time in school history. Only the 1990 (36) and 1991 (34) teams had more wins.

2. CLIMBING THE STRIKEOUT LADDER: The Miami pitching staff has the chance to become the most prolific group of strikeout artists in MAC history. With 375, Miami is in third place behind Central Michigan's 2002 team (413) and Marshall's 2000 team (389).

3. SCOREBOARD WATCHING: The RedHawks could finish anywhere from third to fifth in the MAC standings, and all without playing another MAC game. With 13 teams in the conference, Miami gets its bye on the last week of the conference schedule. Therefore, the RedHawks' tournament seeding now depends on results from this weekend's other games.

LAST TIME AGAINST MICHIGAN STATE: Miami dropped both games of a doubleheader to Michigan State on March 22, 2003, at Miami Softball Field.

In the first game, an 8-0 Michigan State win in six innings, Miami ran into a hungry Spartan team that had as many wins as the RedHawks had played games. In the first three innings, the Spartans recorded three home runs, two triples, eight hits and six runs. Miami finished with four hits in the opener.

Jackie Poggendorf took the loss while giving up eight runs and striking out two. For Michigan State, Jessica Beech struck out seven without a walk.

After Michigan State scored one in the top of the first inning of the second game, Miami matched it in the bottom half when Jamie Carey scored on a throwing error.

The score stayed knotted at 1-1 until the top of the fourth, when Natalie Furrow and Jessica Beech singled for the Spartans before Janette Hurtado doubled both runners in to make the score 3-1. Miami tied the score, 3-3, when Garcia, Chelsie McWhorter and Sarah Buffie started the fourth inning with three straight singles. Pinch-hitter Anna Weinstein earned the first RBI when she grounded out to third base. Jessica Zogaib brought home the next Miami run on a groundout to the Spartan pitcher.

In extra innings, the Spartans were able to score three runs on four hits in the eighth inning to earn the double-header sweep. After back-to-back singles to lead off the inning, Hurtado squeezed the winning runner home. Michigan State later scored two insurance runs to bring the score to 6-3. Beech also earned the second victory to improve her record to 11-3. Beech, the Spartan ace, pitched the last five innings. She held Miami scoreless while striking out four in relief of second game starter, Stephanie Christner.

Courtney Salmon dropped to 5-5 despite only giving up three earned runs in eight innings. Garcia went 4-for-6 on the afternoon, while McWhorter batted 3-for-6.

2005 TEAM NOTES

BALL STATE TAKES TWO OF THREE FROM MIAMI: After Miami pulled out a 2-1, nine-inning victory against Ball State in Saturday's opening game, the RedHawks looked well on their way to a doubleheader sweep, leading 3-0 going into the seventh inning of the nightcap. But Ball State came up with five runs to become the first team to wrest a lead from Miami in the seventh inning all season. The Cardinals came out hitting again Sunday, scoring four unanswered in the middle innings after the game was tied 2-2 through one frame to take the series.

THE SERIES VERSUS MICHIGAN STATE: Miami and Michigan State have played seven times spread over 22 seasons from 1982-2003. Michigan State has won all seven, taking two in 1982, one in 1986, one in 1994, one in 1998 and two in 2003.

A LOOK AHEAD TO THE MAC TOURNAMENT: Miami will be the third, fourth or fifth seed in the Mid-American Conference Tournament next week in Akron, giving the RedHawks a first pitch time of 11 a.m. or 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Miami's seed won't be decided until Sunday, however, as it depends on the outcomes of the Western Michigan-Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green-Central Michigan series. If Miami can earn the third seed, it would be Miami's highest ranking since the 1983 tournament, when Miami was seeded second. The past two seasons, Miami was seeded fourth and sixth.

A BASIS FOR COMPARISON: Miami and Michigan State have faced four common opponents this season, including Virginia Tech, Eastern Kentucky, Texas A&M and Central Michigan. The Spartans lost two each to Virginia Tech, Texas A&M and Central Michigan, while defeating Eastern Kentucky. Miami lost one to Virginia Tech and two to Texas A&M while knocking off EKU and splitting with CMU.

NOT SINCE `83: While Miami's 30 wins are the most since 1991, the 2005 RedHawks did something the top two teams in Miami history in terms of wins--the 1990 and 1991 clubs--were unable to do. This year's bunch won at least one game in every MAC series, something not done since 1983. Miami played eight MAC series in 2005 and five in `83.

MULTI-TALENTED: Jackie Poggendorf's talents on the softball field extend beyond the circle. The senior is Miami's leading hitter at .329 and she also leads the team with 28 runs scored, 15 doubles, 65 total bases, 15 walks and 11 sacrifice hits. Her 50 hits,16 RBI and 10 stolen bases are all second on the team.

STRIKEOUT MANIA: With the single-season individual and team strikeout records already broken, Miami's pitching staff has a shot at the MAC record. With 375 strikeouts so far this season--compared to just 223 on the offensive end--the 2005 RedHawks are third on the all-time single-season MAC list with the record-- 413 by Central Michigan in 2002--still a possibility. If the RedHawks play four games in Akron, as well as the two at Michigan State, Miami needs to strike out six to seven batters each game to break the mark. Miami has also allowed only 75 walks this year compared to those 375 Ks.

BRINGING THE "D": Entering last week, Miami was ranked 17th in Division I in fielding percentage with a clip of .972. Against Ball State, the team made five errors in 95 chances for a fielding percentage of .971 for the year.

STRONG FRESHMEN: Two of Miami's top three hitters are rookies, as Halle Popson and Christine Bills have been major contributors in their first seasons. Popson leads the team with 52 hits, playing all 52 games as the only RedHawk to start every game at the same position. Popson's seven stolen bases are third on the team, and her 23 runs scored rank second. Bills has become Miami's starting rightfielder, knocking in a team third-best 14 RBI. Her 32 hits are third on the team.

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES: Last Sunday's game against Ball State was the last one at Miami Softball Field after 22 seasons off the northeast corner of Yager Stadium. The softball RedHawks move next year to a brand new stadium next year, located off the southwest corner of the football facility and just north of Millett Hall. The new facility features fixed seats and permanent press facilities, making it among the finest parks in the Midwest.