MIAMI SOFTBALL

Miami softball shut out in NCAA opener

MU to face Dayton in Saturday elimination game

By MIKE SMITH
KNOXVILLE, TN -- Sophomore Eden Bigham tamed RedHawk hitters and the Virginia Cavaliers hit two home runs on the way to a 7-0 shutout win over No. 24 Miami Friday afternoon in NCAA Knoxville Regional action at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. 

With its victory, Virginia (33-18) moves on to face Tennessee (1 p.m. ET), which defeated Dayton 3-0 Friday. Miami gets UD for an elimination matchup (3:30 p.m. ET).  The survivor would play again Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.

Although MU led NCAA stats in runs per game (9.15), Bigham (15-7) not only authored Miami's first shutout loss of the year, she surrendered just two hits -- only one of which left the infield. She demonstrated good command and kept the RedHawks off balance with an array of pitches. Her rise ball was particularly effective, helping her strike out 10 MU hitters while walking just three. Only one RedHawk reached second base on the day. 

Miami freshman pitcher Madilyn Reeves (22-4), meanwhile, struggled with command early. She eventually walked seven and struck out just one Cavaliers batter.

Leadoff hitter Jade Hylton led . . .

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. . . Virginia's seven-hit attack, stroking three hits and driving in three runs. She also had one of two UVA homers in the contest. Freshman Macee Eaton, who also drove in three, provided the other long ball.

It was Eaton who provided Virginia with a first inning run. After an opening double by Hylton, Bella Cabral singled and Abby Weaver drew a walk to load the bases. When Eaton flied out to left, Hylton scored easily. However, MU avoided more damage when Spaid fielded  Shelby Barbee's grounder, stepped on third for a force and threw to first for an inning-ending double play.

Virginia came back for more in the second frame, striking for two runs this time despite getting just one hit. Sarah Coon opened with a walk and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a walk to Hackett, Leah Boggs flied out to left for the second out. Hylton's single to left brought one run in and another scored when the throw got through to the backstop. 

With the Cavaliers up 3-0, Reeves got a final out and then threaded her way through two scoreless innings. 

HADLEY PARISIEN

Hadley Parisien's single to open Miami's third turn at the plate sparked some hope for a RedHawk rally, but that was quickly snuffed out when Kate Kobayashi lined out to first. Barbee reached to catch the ball and doubled off Parisien with the same step. Spaid flew out to right to end the inning. 

Miami's other hit came in the fifth when Kobayashi beat out a two-out grounder to shortstop. That brought up Spaid, and she drove a 3-2 pitch to the center field wall. However, it was caught to end what became MU's best chance to score. 

Up 3-0, Virginia added some cushion in its half of the fifth. Cabral walked and Eaton homered to right center to make it a 5-0 advantage. One inning later, Hylton belted a two-run shot for the game's final runs. 

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