Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, February 19
Madeira Beach, Fla.
11 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
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UMASS-Lowell
0-1
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5
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7
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H
E
UMASS-Lowell
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Eastern Michigan
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Photo by: Jason Roberts/Envision Sports Media
Eagles Sweep Day One of Madeira Beach Invitational
2/19/2016 6:11:00 PM | Softball
Freshman Nicolle Miranda set a program record for strikeouts by a freshman
Photo Gallery,
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) – Behind a record-breaking performance in the circle by freshman Nicolle Miranda (Wilmington, Calif.-Port of Los Angeles) and a quality long-relief effort from junior Abbie Minsker (Howell, Mich.-Hartland), the Eastern Michigan University softball team swept day one at the 2016 EMU Madeira Beach Invitational presented by HumaneX. In the first game of the day, a walk-off single gave Eastern (2-5) a 4-3 win over UMASS-Lowell. The Eagles then closed out the day with a come-from-behind 8-6 win over Manhattan (0-1).
Game 1: Eastern Michigan 4, UMASS-Lowell 3
Scoreless through the first inning of play, a two-out double of the bat of sophomore Brandice Olmos (Riverside, Calid.-Grand Terrace) lifted the Eagles to an early 1-0 lead in the second.
The River Hawks evened the score in the third before a two-run home run in the sixth put UMASS-Lowell in front, 3-1.
Eastern cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the sixth, thanks to a RBI single off the bat of Olmos. With senior Abby Davidson (Westerville, Ohio-Olentangy Orange) crossing the plate on Olmos' hit to right EMU trailed 3-2 heading into the final frame.
Looking to add insurance runs in their final at bats, the River Hawks singled to lead off the seventh before swiping second to move the runner into scoring position. With Miranda continuing to cruise in the circle, freshman Amanda Akles (La Habra, Calif.-La Habra) and sophomore Haley Hostetler (New Haven, Ind.-Woodlan) handled a pair of tough grounders to close end UML's threat.
Freshman Olivia Logan (Riverview, Mich.-Riverview) took four consecutive pitches to earn a leadoff walk for the Green and White in the bottom of the seventh. Logan then advanced to second on a single by junior Michelle Kriegshauser (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln Way Central) before Akles doubled to the gap, knotting the score at three. Stepping to the plate with one out and the game-winning run on second, Davidson ingled through the left side to bring in Akles and give the Green and White its first win of the season, 4-3.
Miranda went the distance in the circle, pitching seven innings of five-hit ball while striking out a career-best 12 to earn her first career win. Her dozen of strikeouts is the most by an EMU pitcher since 2011 and the most by an Eastern freshman in program history.
Game 2: Eastern Michigan 8, Manhattan 6
A four-run opening inning chased sophomore Trisha Trujillo (Whittier, Calif.-California), forcing Head Coach Melissa Gentile to tap into her pitching staff. Electing to send Minsker to the mound with the bases loaded and two outs, the junior hurler induced an inning-ending ground ball to get out of the jam.
Wasting no time fighting their way back into it, the Eagles batted around the lineup in the second pushing five across the plate to take the lead. Senior Abi Clark (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton (Alma)) kick started the rally, drawing a leadoff walk before Logan singled to right center to drive in two to tie the score at four. With Logan standing on second, Kriegshauser stepped to the plate. Falling behind in the count early, the New Lenox, Ill. product fought her way back to a full count and belted a three-run home run over the centerfield fence. The long-ball off the bat of Kriegshauser lifted EMU to a 7-4 lead.
The Green and White added a run in the fourth with a RBI single by senior Aiofe Duffy (Powell, Ohio-Olentangy Liberty) but the Jaspers plated two of their own in the inning, cutting EMU's edge to 8-6.
Over the next two innings, Minsker held the Jaspers in check. In the fifth, she used just five pitches to retire Manhattan before closing out the sixth inning with a strikeout.
A quick top half of the inning sent the Eagles to the field, three outs away from their second win of the day. Minsker followed up a leadoff walk with a strikeout before Miranda entered the game to close it out. Inheriting a runner on and a 2-0 count at the plate, Miranda painted the outside corner to earn the strikeout before finishing off the game with a fly ball to left field.
With the 8-6 win over the Jaspers, Minsker notched her first win of the season and Miranda posted her first career save.
The Eagles continue play in Madeira Beach, Fla. tomorrow, Feb. 20, against Marist. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) – Behind a record-breaking performance in the circle by freshman Nicolle Miranda (Wilmington, Calif.-Port of Los Angeles) and a quality long-relief effort from junior Abbie Minsker (Howell, Mich.-Hartland), the Eastern Michigan University softball team swept day one at the 2016 EMU Madeira Beach Invitational presented by HumaneX. In the first game of the day, a walk-off single gave Eastern (2-5) a 4-3 win over UMASS-Lowell. The Eagles then closed out the day with a come-from-behind 8-6 win over Manhattan (0-1).
Game 1: Eastern Michigan 4, UMASS-Lowell 3
Scoreless through the first inning of play, a two-out double of the bat of sophomore Brandice Olmos (Riverside, Calid.-Grand Terrace) lifted the Eagles to an early 1-0 lead in the second.
The River Hawks evened the score in the third before a two-run home run in the sixth put UMASS-Lowell in front, 3-1.
Eastern cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the sixth, thanks to a RBI single off the bat of Olmos. With senior Abby Davidson (Westerville, Ohio-Olentangy Orange) crossing the plate on Olmos' hit to right EMU trailed 3-2 heading into the final frame.
Looking to add insurance runs in their final at bats, the River Hawks singled to lead off the seventh before swiping second to move the runner into scoring position. With Miranda continuing to cruise in the circle, freshman Amanda Akles (La Habra, Calif.-La Habra) and sophomore Haley Hostetler (New Haven, Ind.-Woodlan) handled a pair of tough grounders to close end UML's threat.
Freshman Olivia Logan (Riverview, Mich.-Riverview) took four consecutive pitches to earn a leadoff walk for the Green and White in the bottom of the seventh. Logan then advanced to second on a single by junior Michelle Kriegshauser (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln Way Central) before Akles doubled to the gap, knotting the score at three. Stepping to the plate with one out and the game-winning run on second, Davidson ingled through the left side to bring in Akles and give the Green and White its first win of the season, 4-3.
Miranda went the distance in the circle, pitching seven innings of five-hit ball while striking out a career-best 12 to earn her first career win. Her dozen of strikeouts is the most by an EMU pitcher since 2011 and the most by an Eastern freshman in program history.
Game 2: Eastern Michigan 8, Manhattan 6
A four-run opening inning chased sophomore Trisha Trujillo (Whittier, Calif.-California), forcing Head Coach Melissa Gentile to tap into her pitching staff. Electing to send Minsker to the mound with the bases loaded and two outs, the junior hurler induced an inning-ending ground ball to get out of the jam.
Wasting no time fighting their way back into it, the Eagles batted around the lineup in the second pushing five across the plate to take the lead. Senior Abi Clark (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton (Alma)) kick started the rally, drawing a leadoff walk before Logan singled to right center to drive in two to tie the score at four. With Logan standing on second, Kriegshauser stepped to the plate. Falling behind in the count early, the New Lenox, Ill. product fought her way back to a full count and belted a three-run home run over the centerfield fence. The long-ball off the bat of Kriegshauser lifted EMU to a 7-4 lead.
The Green and White added a run in the fourth with a RBI single by senior Aiofe Duffy (Powell, Ohio-Olentangy Liberty) but the Jaspers plated two of their own in the inning, cutting EMU's edge to 8-6.
Over the next two innings, Minsker held the Jaspers in check. In the fifth, she used just five pitches to retire Manhattan before closing out the sixth inning with a strikeout.
A quick top half of the inning sent the Eagles to the field, three outs away from their second win of the day. Minsker followed up a leadoff walk with a strikeout before Miranda entered the game to close it out. Inheriting a runner on and a 2-0 count at the plate, Miranda painted the outside corner to earn the strikeout before finishing off the game with a fly ball to left field.
With the 8-6 win over the Jaspers, Minsker notched her first win of the season and Miranda posted her first career save.
The Eagles continue play in Madeira Beach, Fla. tomorrow, Feb. 20, against Marist. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Miranda, Nicolle (1-3)
L: Handley (0-1)
Batting:
2B: ALCORN, Tori 1 ; McQUEEN, Samantha 1
HR: ZINKIEWICZ, Alyssa 1
RBI: ALCORN, Tori 1 ; ZINKIEWICZ, Alyssa 2
Base Running:
RUNS: O'BRIEN, Emily 1 ; ZINKIEWICZ, Alyssa 1 ; WEST, Brianna 1
SB: WELCH, Alisha 1
HBP: O'BRIEN, Emily 1
Batting:
2B: Kriegshauser, Michelle 1 ; Akles, Amanda 1 ; Clark, Abi 1 ; Olmos, Brandice 1
RBI: Akles, Amanda 1 ; Davidson, Abby 1 ; Olmos, Brandice 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Logan, Olivia 1 ; Akles, Amanda 1 ; Whitbeck, Elaine 1 ; Davidson, Abby 1
CS: Kriegshauser, Michelle 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
3B/1B
/ Softball
3B/OF
/ SoftballSS/2B
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
1B/3B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball2B/SS
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballThank You, Team 38
Monday, May 07
Overcoming Adversity: A Lauren Holdsworth Feature
Saturday, February 24
Closing Out a Legacy: Michelle Kriegshauser
Thursday, May 18
EMU Softball Signs Alyssa Feiler
Saturday, March 25