Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Toledo
Softball Sweeps Day Two of Louisville Classic
3/25/2006 4:56:00 PM | Softball
Walk-off Home Run Powers Eagles Past Toledo
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Eastern Michigan softball team swept a pair of games today in the second day of competition at the 2006 Louisville Classic at Ulmer Stadium. The Eagles defeated Middle Tennessee State, 4-2, and completed a come-from-behind victory against Toledo, 4-3, off a walk-off home run by freshman catcher Heather Han (Lafayette, Ind.-McCutcheon).
With the sweep the Eagle sit at 8-15 overall on the season. Middle Tennessee falls to 7-21-1, while Toledo drops to 7-14. .
Versus the Blue Raiders, EMU was led by junior shortstop Lauren Clark (Flat Rock, Mich.-New Boston Huron) who went 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and swiped her team-leading sixth base of the season. Junior outfielder Lindsay Schmid (Madison, Ohio-Madison) also had a multi-hit performance, going 2-for-4 in the contest and knocked in a run.
Senior pitcher Nikki Denman (Toledo, Ohio-Sylvania Southview) picked up the win improving to 3-4 on the season. She went four innings striking out four batters and giving up two runs. Junior pitcher Aimee Woodrum (Cincinnati, Ohio-Sycamore) threw three scoreless innings in relief picking up her first save of the season.
EMU got on the scoreboard first in the third inning after an RBI single off the bat of sophomore first baseman Ashley Strauss (Trenton, Mich.-Trenton). A second run scored after Denman reached on a fielder’s choice. Schmid doubled to plate Denman for EMU’s third run of the inning.
The Blue Raiders closed to gap to 3-2 in the fourth after Shelby Stiner hit a two run home run to leftfield. The Eagle responded with the final run of the game after Clark singled to centerfield bringing the score to 4-2.
Against the Rockets, Han picked an opportune time to hit her first collegiate home run, as she hit a walk-off two run shot in the bottom of the seventh with two outs to give the Eagles a 4-3 victory.
EMU managed just three hits in the contest. A single by sophomore outfielder Heather Giroux (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston), a double by Clark, and Han’s homer.
Toledo broke the 0-0 tie in the third inning after an RBI single. The Rockets added two more runs the following innings after an EMU error moving the score to 3-0.
The Eagles would score two runs in the bottom half of the fourth after two bases loaded walks brought two runs home.
EMU would add the final two runs in the last frame after Schmid walked, Han would end the game with a rounder tripper to centerfield.
Junior pitcher Michelle Lloyd (Akron, Ohio-Archbishop Hoban) got the start, just one day after she tossed a no-hitter against the defending national champion and No. 12 ranked University of Michigan squad in a rare no-hit loss for the Eagles. Lloyd went three innings allowing three runs, one earned off four hits. Woodrum (1-4) appeared from the bullpen again throwing four scoreless innings en route to picking up the victory.
EMU will conclude the final day of competition at the Louisville Classic with a game with No. 21 host Louisville. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
