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1:07 AM Sunday, May 10, 2009

RedHawks win  MAC championship

AKRON — Sarah Billstrom hit a home run to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning, and Jessica Simpson threw her second consecutive shutout as the Miami RedHawks defeated Western Michigan 1-0 on Saturday, May 9, to win the 2009 Mid-American Conference championship.

With the win, the RedHawks earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament for the second time in school history.

Simpson was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, while Billstrom and Kat Russette joined her on the all-tournament team.

Simpson and Broncos starter Meredith Whitney combined to allow only two hits through the first five innings and had no runners reach third base.

Billstrom’s blast in the bottom of the sixth inning landed about 20 feet past the left-field fence. It proved to be all Miami needed as Simpson forced three consecutive ground outs to Billstrom in the top of the seventh inning to preserve the win.

Miami will find out its NCAA fate today when the bracket is revealed at 10 p.m. on ESPNU.

Chuck Daly

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