Feb. 17, 2008

Box Score

MONROE, La. - (Sunday, February 17, 2008) The high-powered Redhawks offense was shutdown in a pair of games on the finale of the Mardi Gras Tournament at ULM Softball Complex on Sunday. The Redhawks fell 8-1 to Big 12 power Iowa State in their first game of the day and followed that with a tough 2-1 loss against host Louisiana-Monroe in their final game of the tournament.

After scoring 25 runs and collecting 31 hits in their first three games of the season they could only manage only two runs and seven hits on Sunday.

The Redhawks (3-2) where on the cusp of stealing one away from the Warhawks (4-4). Trailing 2-0 heading into the final inning the Redhawks led off with an Alex Ramirez (Corona, CA/El Modena) double to left center. After Lauren Bradley (Overland Park, KS/Shawnee Mission South) flew out to rightfield Carmen Fowler singled to center to push Ramirez to third. Webb than advanced on the throw to third to give the Redhawks two players in scoring position. A passed ball by Warhawks pitcher Kandace Causey plated Ramirez and cut the deficit to 2-1 and allowed Webb to move to third.

Causey settled down and struck out Whitney Dupuis (Sulphur, LA/Sulphur) and retired the hot-hitting Michelle Summers (Glendale, CA/Hoover) on a foul popup to firstbase to end the Redhawks threat and the game.

Dupuis (0-1) was impressive in her first extended action in the circle. After yielding a two-run homer to Brianna Love in the first inning she settled down and allowed only three hits the rest of the way. She pitched six innings allowing two runs on five hits and striking out three.

The Redhawks only managed four hits in the game with two of those coming in the final inning. Summers went 1-3 with a double and has hit safely in all five games this season and has a seven-game hitting streak dating back to last season.

Junior Allie Borowiak (Nashville, IL/John A. Logan CC) joined Summers, Ramirez and Fowler as the only Redhawks to collect hits off of Love.

Against the Cyclones (5-1) the Redhawks bats were cooled as they could only muster one run on three hits off of Cyclone ace Charissa Carlin. But the usually solid Redhawks defense committed five errors to help the Cyclone cause.

Redhawks ace Elaine Fisher (St. Peters, MO/Francis Howell North) was hit hard from the onset giving up two runs in the first but settled down and pitched well till getting into some trouble in the fourth inning.

A lead-off single, a misplay of a fielder's choice and a bunt single loaded the bases up for the Cyclones power-hitting catcher Alex Johnson who preceded to drive a Fisher pitch over the left field fence for a grand slam highlighting a five run inning for the Cyclones.

The Redhawks finally got on the board in their half of the sixth inning when Summers lead-off with her second hit of the morning. Katie Otterness (Schaumburg, IL/Hoffman Estates) walked pushing Summers to second. Megan McDonald (Cape Girardeau, MO/Cape Central) flew out before Stacia Dopudja (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA/Santa Margarita Catholic) singled up the middle to load the bases with one out. Jennifer Vasquez (Placentia, CA/El Dorado) grounded out to shortstop to plate Summers and Ramirez fouled out to Johnson to end the Redhawks rally.

Iowa State added a run in the bottom of the sixth off of Redhawks reliever Leigh Leonard (Benton, KY/Marshall County) for the final margin.

Fisher (2-1) went five innings allowing seven runs (four earned) on six hits to suffer her first loss of the season. She struckout five and did not allow a walk.

Summers collected two of the Redhawks three hits including a double to lead the offense.

Summers was named to the All-Tournament team after batting .566 with five hits three of which went for doubles in the Redhawks three games.

The Redhawks continue their tournament tour this weekend when they travel Southaven, Mississippi to participate in the Blues City Classic. They start the tournament against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Friday, February 22 at 2:15 and then face Ohio Valley Conference rival Morehead State at 4:30.