April 10, 2008

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score |  Photo Gallery 

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Wednesday, April 9, 2008) The Redhawks softball team split a non-conference doubleheader against Middle Tennessee State at Southeast Softball Complex on Wednesday to improve their record to 7-2 at home. The Redhawks won the opening game 6-4 on a walk-off homerun by Stacia Dopudja (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA/Santa Margarita Catholic) before falling 5-3 in the nightcap.

Trailing 4-3 with one out in the final inning, Dopudja drilled a two-run shot to left center for the game-winning homerun. Jennifer Vasquez (Placentia, CA/El Dorado) hit a one-out double to rightfield and was followed by a Megan McDonald (Cape Girardeau, MO/Cape Central) double to left center to tie the game at four runs apiece before Dopudja's two-run homer to end the game.

The Redhawks (18-19, 7-7 OVC) trailed 3-1 heading into the sixth before the Redhawks tied the game in their half of the sixth. McDonald led off the inning with a double to right which was followed by a Dopudja single. McDonald later scored on a Katie Otterness (Schaumburg, IL/Hoffman Estates) grounder.

The Redhawks tied the game later in the inning when Blue Raiders (15-19) starting pitcher Lindsey Vander Lugt committed an error on a Carmen Fowler (Lawrenceville, GA/Collins Hill) grounder that scored Lauren Bradley (Overland Park, KS/Shawnee Mission South).

The Blue Raiders pulled ahead in the top of the seventh when Kandra Singleton scored on a throwing error by Elaine Fisher (St. Peters, MO/Francis Howell North) setting up the Redhawks heroics in the bottom half of the inning.

The Redhawks scored first in the opening inning as Dopudja drove in Vasquez with an RBI groundout. The Golden Raiders answered with one unearned run in the second and two in the third to grab an early 3-1 lead.

Fisher won her 13th game of the season as she extended her streak of complete games to 13 games. She allowed four runs (non of which were earned) on four hits while striking out five and not issuing a walk.

Vander Lugt (10-11) received the loss as she went the distance allowing six runs on eight hits.

Offensively the Redhawks were led by McDonald she collected her team-high eighth three-hit game of the season. She went 3-4 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored.

Dopudja went 2-4 with three RBIs and Vasquez finished 2-4 with a double and two runs scored.

In game two the Redhawks jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead thanks to solo homeruns by McDonald in the first inning and Bradley in the second.

The Blue Raiders scored one run in the third and three runs in the fourth off of Redhawks starter Whitney Dupuis (Sulphur, LA/Sulphur) to pull ahead 4-2.

The Redhawks cut it to one run in the fifth courtesy of a Dopudja sacrifice fly to plate Michelle Summers (Glendale, CA/Hoover).

The Blue Raiders answered with a run in the sixth and starter Kellie Head stopped all potential late-inning heroics to hold on for the victory.

Head went the distance for her fifth win of the season. She allowed three runs on seven hits.

Dupuis (4-7) received the loss lasting only 3.2 innings giving up four runs on nine hits before being relieved by Fisher who struckout four in 3.1 innings.

Vasquez went 2-4 with a double as McDonald collected her sixth homerun and Bradley her fourth of the season.

The Redhawks head down to Birmingham, Alabama to face Samford this weekend in Ohio Valley Conference play. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 12.