The red-hot RedHawk offense proved to be too much for the Eastern Michigan University women’s softball team as it fell twice during the weekend series.
The Eagles (19-28, 5-11 Mid-American Conference) couldn’t contain the bats of the RedHawks (28-16, 9-5 MAC) as they lost the first game in six innings, 8-0, and fell in the second contest 10-0 in five innings.
The Eagles’ offense was abysmal in the first game, recording just four hits. Despite picking it up in the second game with six hits, the Eagles failed to score once in the series.
In game one, junior outfielder Katy Blaharski led the Eagles with two hits while freshman utility-fielder Amanda Herron and senior infielder Jessica Richards both had hits for the Eagles.
Despite Miami scoring eight runs, the Eagle pitching wasn’t the problem. Freshman pitcher Lindsay Rich allowed two earned runs through 5.1 innings, and sophomore Lauren Wells allowed one.
The Eagle defense, however, was a different story.
The defense had three errors and allowed five earned runs.
Two errors occurred in the first inning, allowing the RedHawks to score two runs, and a homerun by Miami sophomore utility-fielder Kayla Ledbetter put the RedHawks up 3-0.
In the sixth inning, the RedHawks would strike again to end the game — a result of the 8-run mercy rule.
With the bases loaded, senior outfielder Jordan McElroy hit a bases-clearing triple to put her team up eight, which ended the game.
Game two would display more of the same.
Four errors by Eagle defenders would allow eight runs for the RedHawks while junior pitcher Jenna Ignowski allowed two earned runs on eight hits.
Freshman infielder Jenn Lucas had two of the errors for the Eagles.
The RedHawks were led by Ann Arbor native and sophomore infielder Kristy Arbour, who finished the game with two hits, two runs and an RBI.
Despite getting just one official at-bat, junior utility-fielder Taylor Rice came to pinch-hit in the bottom of the third inning, where she would single in two runs for the RedHawks.
The Eagles would bounce back in the fourth inning with two hits, but with two outs and two on base, junior catcher Courtney Loe would fly out to right field to end the inning.
Senior infielder Jessica Richards would record an infield single with one out in the fifth inning, but two consecutive outs ended the inning and the game for the Eagles.
The last-place Eagles will head home for four consecutive games starting on Friday when the Akron Zips come to town for a doubleheader.
First pitch is schedule for 1 p.m. at Varsity Field.
