Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tuesday, March 22
South Bend, Ind.
5 p.m.
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Notre Dame
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Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Defense Falters in Softball's Loss to No. 19 Notre Dame
3/22/2016 6:46:00 PM | Softball
The Eagles recorded five errors in the loss
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University softball held their own with the University of Notre Dame through three and a half innings at Melissa Cook Stadium Tuesday, March 22, but the No. 19 Fighting Irish (23-3) ultimately topped the Eagles (9-15), 10-2 in five innings. The Eagles committed five errors in the setback, resulting in five unearned runs for Notre Dame.
Freshman Nicolle Miranda (Wilmington, Calif.-Port of Los Angeles) pitched all five innings, allowing five earned runs on 11 hits. Meanwhile, freshman Amanda Akles (La Habra, Calif.-La Habra) went 2-for-2 at the dish to pace the Green and White offense. In addition to posting her fifth multi-hit game, Akles registered her fourth multi-RBI game with two runs driven in.
The Fighting Irish sent the Eagles down in order in the opening frame before pushing four across the plate in their first turn at bat. A leadoff walk came around to score on a chopper through the right side before back-to-back errors allowed Notre Dame to tack on two more. Sophomore Haley Hostetler (New Haven, Ind.-Woodlan) scooped up a slow roller and fired to first for the final out of the inning but not before a RBI-single pushed ND's lead to four.
Eastern Michigan registered its first hit of the game in the second courtesy of Akles. After a ball high and in nearly nicked her, Akles ripped a single to the wall in left center before being lifted for a pinch runner. Senior Elaine Whitbeck (Holland, Mich.-West Ottawa) swiped second but was stranded there as pop ups ended the Eagles' scoring threat.
A one-two-three inning by Miranda took care of the Fighting Irish in the second, sending the Eagles to the third trailing by four.
The Green and White offense could not manage a hit in the third, turning things back over to the Fighting Irish. Just as it looked as though Notre Dame would add a few more, Miranda induced an inning ending double play.
Feeding off the energy of Miranda and the defense, the Eagles broke into the scoring column in the fourth. Freshman Olivia Logan (Riverview, Mich.-Riverview) blasted a double off the fence in center to open the frame. After a strikeout, junior Michelle Kriegshauser (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln Way Central) came to the dish and ripped a single, putting runners on the corners for Akles. Facing a 1-1 count, Akles ripped a bases-clearing-single to left center, pulling EMU within two, 4-2.
With trouble brewing for the Eagles, a hard hit ball nearly pegged Miranda in the circle before deflecting off second and into left. The odd hop and unfortunate bounce allowed a pair of runs to cross the plate, extending Notre Dame's lead to 6-2.
After the Eagles failed to capitalize on a Notre Dame miscue, a two-run shot and a RBI-single gave the Fighting Irish a 10-2 win in five innings.
The Green and White return to the diamond Friday, March 25, when it opens Mid-American Conference play in Akron, Ohio. The three-game series with the Zips of the University of Akron is set to begin with a 3 p.m. first pitch.
Freshman Nicolle Miranda (Wilmington, Calif.-Port of Los Angeles) pitched all five innings, allowing five earned runs on 11 hits. Meanwhile, freshman Amanda Akles (La Habra, Calif.-La Habra) went 2-for-2 at the dish to pace the Green and White offense. In addition to posting her fifth multi-hit game, Akles registered her fourth multi-RBI game with two runs driven in.
The Fighting Irish sent the Eagles down in order in the opening frame before pushing four across the plate in their first turn at bat. A leadoff walk came around to score on a chopper through the right side before back-to-back errors allowed Notre Dame to tack on two more. Sophomore Haley Hostetler (New Haven, Ind.-Woodlan) scooped up a slow roller and fired to first for the final out of the inning but not before a RBI-single pushed ND's lead to four.
Eastern Michigan registered its first hit of the game in the second courtesy of Akles. After a ball high and in nearly nicked her, Akles ripped a single to the wall in left center before being lifted for a pinch runner. Senior Elaine Whitbeck (Holland, Mich.-West Ottawa) swiped second but was stranded there as pop ups ended the Eagles' scoring threat.
A one-two-three inning by Miranda took care of the Fighting Irish in the second, sending the Eagles to the third trailing by four.
The Green and White offense could not manage a hit in the third, turning things back over to the Fighting Irish. Just as it looked as though Notre Dame would add a few more, Miranda induced an inning ending double play.
Feeding off the energy of Miranda and the defense, the Eagles broke into the scoring column in the fourth. Freshman Olivia Logan (Riverview, Mich.-Riverview) blasted a double off the fence in center to open the frame. After a strikeout, junior Michelle Kriegshauser (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln Way Central) came to the dish and ripped a single, putting runners on the corners for Akles. Facing a 1-1 count, Akles ripped a bases-clearing-single to left center, pulling EMU within two, 4-2.
With trouble brewing for the Eagles, a hard hit ball nearly pegged Miranda in the circle before deflecting off second and into left. The odd hop and unfortunate bounce allowed a pair of runs to cross the plate, extending Notre Dame's lead to 6-2.
After the Eagles failed to capitalize on a Notre Dame miscue, a two-run shot and a RBI-single gave the Fighting Irish a 10-2 win in five innings.
The Green and White return to the diamond Friday, March 25, when it opens Mid-American Conference play in Akron, Ohio. The three-game series with the Zips of the University of Akron is set to begin with a 3 p.m. first pitch.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Rhodes (11-2)
L: Miranda, Nicolle (4-9)
Batting:
2B: Logan, Olivia 1
RBI: Akles, Amanda 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Schilke, Angel 1 ; Kriegshauser, Michelle 1
SB: Kriegshauser, Michelle 1 ; Whitbeck, Elaine 1
Batting:
2B: Reed 1
HR: Reed 1
RBI: Wester 1 ; A. Wester 2 ; Rochford 2 ; Reed 4 ; McCracken 1
SH: Wester 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wester 2 ; Rochford 1 ; Brooks 1 ; Arizmendi 1 ; Reed 2 ; Piccinich 1 ; Bigler 2
SB: Wester 2 ; Bigler 1
HBP: Arizmendi 1
Game Leaders
AB
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H
2
RBI
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AB
3
R
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H
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RBI
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AB
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R
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H
1
RBI
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AB
3
R
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H
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RBI
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Players Mentioned
3B/1B
/ Softball
SS/2B
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball1B/3B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ 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