Follow: @MiamiRedHawks | @MiamiOH_SB
AKRON, Ohio – Thanks to a gritty all-around effort and some superb pitching from junior Amber Logemann, the Miami University softball team earned a pair of 10-inning victories at Akron on Friday. The RedHawks took the first game, 1-0. They then came from behind to earn a 3-2 win in the nightcap. Miami improves to 27-20 overall and 10-6 in the Mid-American Conference. The Zips fall to 20-22 overall and 7-8 in the MAC.
Logemann could not be touched in the opener. She kept a no-hitter going past the regulation point of the game, totaling 8 2/3 innings. Akron got a threat in the bottom of the seventh, when a walk and an error put runners on first and third with two outs. Logemann calmly struck out Sara Pearson to send the game into extra innings.
The Zips got their next threat in the bottom of the ninth inning. After Logemann recorded the first two outs, the next batter walked. Savannah Fruin then hit a hard shot that actually went off Logemann’s leg. She just missed getting a glove on it, but it got away and into centerfield for Akron’s first and only hit of the contest. That put runners on second and third with two outs. Once again Logemann stepped up and struck out Taylor Kirian to keep the game alive.
Meanwhile, the RedHawks had managed five hits in the first nine innings off Zips pitcher Erin Seiler, but could not manage to string them together for a run. With two outs and no one on in the top of the 10th, senior shortstop Kylie McChesney hit a line shot to right centerfield. She hustled in to second base for a double, sliding under the tag. Senior outfielder Tiyona Marshall then hit a blooper into shallow leftfield. The ball went under the glove of the leftfielder, allowing McChesney to come home and score the game’s first run.
In the bottom of the 10th, Logemann retired Akron in order on a pair of groundouts and a strikeout for her 22nd win of the season. She allowed no runs on only one hit in 10 innings pitched, while striking out 12.
Marshall and sophomore second baseman each finished the opener 2-for-5 to lead the RedHawks.
Both teams started the second game with new pitchers. Despite that, the duel continued. Miami used a combination of sophomore Kelsey Fredericks, senior Remy Edwards and senior Megan Mattera to get through the first four innings.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, when a solo home run, followed by a pair of singles and an error resulted in two runs, giving Akron a 2-0 lead.
Despite the Zips putting Seiler back in the game at that point, Miami fought right back in the top of the fifth. With one out, Marshall singled to short. A sacrifice bunt by junior designated player Tanya Busby moved her up to second. Sophomore second baseman Eryn McCarver followed with a single up the middle that scored Marshall and cut the deficit to 2-1. Senior first baseman Shanyn McIntyre then tied the game on a double to centerfield that scored McCarver.
Logemann came back in during the bottom of the fifth and again proceeded to keep Akron off the board. While she did not keep the Zips hitless, they were unable to get a runner past first base over the next five innings.
The RedHawks finally got the winning run in the top of the 10th. Marshall led off with a single to leftfield. She advanced to second on a passed ball and to third on a sacrifice bunt from Busby. After McCarver drew a walk, McIntyre hit a ball through the Akron third baseman’s leg, allowing Marshall to score and eventually give the ‘Hawks a 3-2 win.
Logemann allowed no runs on two hits in 5.0 innings pitched to earn her 23rd win of the season. For the day, she gave up no runs and only three hits in 16.0 innings pitched while striking out 14.
Marshall finished the nightcap 3-for-5 with two runs scored. McCarver was 2-for-2 with one RBI and one run scored.
Miami now travels to Ohio to begin a two-game weekend series. Saturday’s game has been moved up to an 11 a.m. start due to poor weather expected in the afternoon.
