Miami Student

Issue date: 3/27/07 Section: Sports

Toledo pitchers wait out the rain in the bullpen during the Miami Invitational.

President David Hodge was accompanied by former Miami University President Phillip Shriver and a few Miami softball alumni to throw out first pitches Friday afternoon in the university's brand new $4.5 million softball stadium, where the RedHawks faced the Purdue University Boilermakers at the
inaugural game.

Athletic Director Brad Bates also welcomed eager softball fans at the dedication ceremony, extending thanks for all of the supporters responsible for the development of the new facility, which features an indoor batting cage and other amenities.

The RedHawks (8-19-1) played to a 3-3 tie with the Boilermakers (14-20-1) Friday afternoon and had their night game against the Toledo Rockets called on the account of rain. Mother Nature's ugly plan forced a pair of rain delays and ultimately caused the game to be called during the bottom of the eighth inning, ending play early and causing the tie.

"I was most impressed with Alicia Hogl today," Head Coach Kelly Schoenly said. "She did a great job at the start of the lineup. It's hard because she had to set the tone for the whole game."

Hogl scored the first run in the new stadium and of the game in the bottom of the third inning. Hogl began the action with a line drive double to left field, stealing third before scoring off of senior Leslie Macedo's two-out RBI single.

A Purdue error in the bottom of the fourth inning led Miami to its second run of the game. First-year Sara Billstrom wasted no time getting started, notching a lead-off single. After advancing to second base courtesy of a sacrifice bunt, Billstrom stole third and touched home as Purdue's first baseman scrambled for a loose ball.

"Purdue has a lot of confidence, but just like any team we had to find out where there weakness was," said first-year pitcher Shalise Lugo.

The first rain delay was called during the bottom of the fifth inning, giving Lugo a chance to cool off her arm, but it also bought time for the Boilermakers to warm up their bats.

After the hour-long delay, Purdue found a way to tally some runs, breaking through with three runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Miami's 2-0 cushion vanished as Purdue sophomore Katie Mitchell connected with the ball, notching her sixth homerun of the season. The RedHawks' lead disappeared when Purdue's Erika Peterson knocked out another Purdue home run, bringing the Boilermaker's to a tie with Miami. However, the battle didn't end there, as a pair of RedHawk fielding errors late in the top of the seventh inning allowed the Boilermakers to score one last run, giving them their first lead of the game, 3-2.

Continued...

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