University of Washington
22-4
Husky Classic: Miami University
8-7
Washington Knocks Off Miami (OH), Ohio State For Two-Win Day
March 08, 2015 | Softball
SEATTLE -- The No. 19-ranked University of Washington softball team repeated its performance from a day ago, sweeping Miami (OH), 15-1 in five innings, and Ohio State, 6-0, at the Husky Classic on Saturday (March 7) in front of 1,052 fans at Husky Softball Stadium.
The Huskies remained hot at the plate, recording 12 hits in the first game against Miami. Eight different UW batters tallied at least one base knock as Washington boasted double-digit hits for the fourth consecutive game. Junior Jennie McNeill led the Dawgs at the plate with four RBI. Sophomores Ali Aguilar and Casey Stangel and juniors Courtney Gano and McNeill all posted two hits apiece.
Freshman pitcher Kirstyn Thomas earned her first career win in the Purple and Gold, tossing 4.0 innings, allowing just one run on two hits. Junior Hailey Bator entered in the fifth inning to close out the game for the Huskies and retired the next three Miami batters in order on just six pitches.
Miami hit a solo home run in the top of the second to take an early 1-0 lead but the Dawgs responded, scoring 15 unanswered runs.
The Huskies got their bats working early, plating nine runs off seven hits in the second inning. Stangel led off with a single, Kelli Suguro drew a walk and Kimberlee Souza was hit-by-pitch to load the bases. McNeill's single scored a pair to put the Dawgs on top, 2-1. Taylor Van Zee followed suit as her double plated two more and an RBI groundout by Ali Aguilar plated the fifth run. Hits by Gano, Stangel, Suguro and DePonte tacked on four more as the Dawgs took a comfortable 9-1 lead heading to the third.
Washington used two hits and five walks to plate five more runs in the third. Souza's single off the wall and McNeill's second hit of the game highlighted the inning and helped boost the Husky lead to 14-1.
The Huskies lone run in the fourth came after Aguilar hit her second double of the game and Gano's second hit scored her and the Huskies ran away with the run-rule victory, 15-1.
In the second game of the night, senior Kasey Stanchek (7-2) earned the complete-game shutout against Ohio State, striking out seven Buckeye batters while scattering seven hits.
Suguro, who is boasting a 14-game hitting streak, recorded two hits in the game to lead the Dawgs. Krystal Aubert recorded a team-high three RBI.
Washington claimed another early advantage in the second inning on a solo home run from Gano, a straight line drive over the bleachers. Gano has a team-leading 11 home runs on the season. Huskies took a 2-0 lead after Stangel drew a walk, Suguro hit a bunt-single and Aubert's sac fly scored pinch runner Burdick.
After managing just two hits through the first three innings, the Huskies broke the game open in the fourth, plating four runs on three hits and an error. After back-to-back singles by Stangel and Suguro and a walk quickly loaded the bases, Aubert drove a two-RBI single into rightfield and a throwing error allowed Souza and Aubert both to score as the Huskies took a 6-0 lead.
Ohio State threatened in the sixth by stringing together a pair of singles but Stanchek recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning unscathed and help guide the Huskies to their 23rd victory of the season.
Washington is back in action tomorrow (Sunday) in the final day of the Husky Classic. The Huskies will play Ohio State again at 11:15 a.m. before a 1:30 p.m. game against Cal State Northridge.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Thomas, Kirstyn (1-0)
L: EDWARDS (2-3)
Batting:
HR: LIPSCOMB 1
RBI: LIPSCOMB 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LIPSCOMB 1
Batting:
2B: Van Zee, Taylor 1 ; Aguilar, Ali 2 ; Stangel, Casey 1
RBI: Van Zee, Taylor 2 ; Aguilar, Ali 1 ; Gano, Courtney 2 ; Stangel, Casey 2 ; Suguro, Kelli 1 ; Meggs, Kelly 1 ; Souza, Kimberlee 1 ; DePonte, Julia 1 ; McNeill, Jennie 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Lahners, Kylee 2 ; Van Zee, Taylor 1 ; Aguilar, Ali 2 ; Gano, Courtney 2 ; Stangel, Casey 3 ; Suguro, Kelli 2 ; Meggs, Kelly 1 ; Souza, Kimberlee 1 ; McNeill, Jennie 1
HBP: Souza, Kimberlee 1
