March 7, 2008

Game 1 Box Score |Game 2 Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. (Friday, March 7, 2008) The Redhawks softball team split their two games during the opening day of the Florida Atlantic University Miken Invitational in sunny Boca Raton, Florida on Friday. They fell to Florida Gulf Coast University, 5-0 in the opening game of the tournament before defeating Bethune-Cookman, 4-0 in their second game of the day.

Against Bethune-Cookman (4-19) used a Stacia Dopudja (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA/Santa Margarita Catholic) two-out double to score three runs in the top of the third-inning to propel the team to their fourth win in five games. The Redhawks (8-6) pitching staff recorded their third shutout of the season in their second game of the day.

Using the momentum from an impressive relief appearance earlier in the day, freshman Whitney Dupuis (Sulphur, LA/Sulphur) tossed her first collegiate complete game shutout. She held the Wildcats to only five hits while striking out four in seven innings.

The Wildcats threatened in the earlier innings leaving five runners on base in the first two innings against Dupuis including a bases-loaded one-out situation in the top of the first. However the Redhawks defense proved to be the difference maker in the game.

Whenever Dupuis seemed to be in trouble she looked to her defense to help her as they recorded play-after solid play including a key double-play in the third inning that stopped a potential big inning by the Wildcats.

The offensive production for the Redhawks came in the top of the third. With two outs Michelle Summers (Glendale, CA/Hoover) reached on an error by the third baseman. Jennifer Vasquez (Placentia, CA/El Dorado) then singled down the leftfield line. Megan McDonald (Cape Girardeau, MO/Cape Central) then beat out a grounder to the pitcher to load the bags. Dopudja then crushed a double to right center to clear the bases and give the Redhawks a 3-0 advantage.

In their half of the seventh the Redhawks added an insurance run for the final margin as Lauren Bradley (Overland Park, KS/Shawnee Mission South) plated Carmen Fowler (Lawrenceville, GA/Collins Hill) with a sacrifice fly.

Dupuis (3-2) recorded her third win of the season as she held the Wildcats to only two hits in the final four innings while striking out three of her four batters.

Dopudja went 1-3 to extend her current hitting streak to five games. She also collected her third multi-RBI game of the season.

In the opening game the Redhawks bats struggled against a solid Florida Gulf Coast University (23-6) team. The Redhawks were held hitless until the fifth inning as Eagles pitcher Rachael Edinger recorded her 11th win of the season as she used an array of pitches to keep the potent Redhawks bats silent. She allowed only four hits while striking out six in the complete game shutout effort.

Redhawks ace Elaine Fisher (St. Peters, MO/Francis Howell North) lasted only five innings allowing five runs (three earned)on seven hits. She struckout five Eagles while issuing an uncharacteristic threee walks.

Dupuis finished up the game allowing only one hit in two shutout innings.

Dopudja, Fowler, Bradley and Katie Otterness collected hits for the Redhawks in Game One.

The Redhawks return to the field tomorrow, Saturday, March 8 for Day Two of the tournament. They open with Towson Sta:e at 3:00 pm (CST) before facing host FAU in the nightcap at 7:00 (CST) The game against FAU can be followed live on Gametracker via the gosoutheast.com website.