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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – In its final non-conference doubleheader of the season, the Miami University softball team earned a split with Northern Kentucky on Tuesday. The RedHawks took a 9-2 victory in the opener. The Norse came back to gain a 5-3 win in the nightcap. Miami is now 30-21 on the season, while NKU is 6-39.
In the top of the first of the opener, senior outfielder Tiyona Marshall led off with a single to leftfield. She advanced to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, a single up the middle by senior first baseman Shanyn McIntyre scored Marshall and gave Miami a 1-0 lead.
The RedHawks followed with two runs in the top of the third. Senior shortstop Kylie McChesney led off with a bunt single. She advanced to second on a wild pitch. Marshall singled up the middle to drive in McChesney and put the ‘Hawks up 2-0. Junior outfielder Tanya Busby followed with a bunt single that moved Marshall up to third. After an out was recorded, a sacrifice fly by McIntyre allowed Marshall to score to make it 3-0.
Miami broke the game open with three runs in the top of the fourth. Senior third baseman Remy Edwards and freshman catcher Kat Lee led off with back-to-back singles. With one out, a sacrifice bunt by McChesney moved the runners up a base. Marshall then tripled to centerfield to score Edwards and Lee and make it 5-0. Busby followed with an infield single to second base to bring home Marshall and give the RedHawks a 6-0 advantage.
Junior pitcher Amber Logemann kept the Norse without a hit for the first three innings. NKU then used three hits and an error to score two runs in the bottom of the fourth and pull within four at 6-2.
In the top of the fifth, McChesney singled up the middle to score Edwards and make it 7-2.
Miami completed its scoring with two more in the top of the seventh. Edwards led off with a single through the right side. Lee reached on a fielder’s choice sacrifice bunt; Edwards was safe on an error. A single up the middle by sophomore right fielder Jenna Jones scored Edwards. McChesney moved the remaining runners up with a sacrifice bunt, while a sacrifice fly by junior designated player Hailey Reed scored Lee and finished off the 9-2 win.
Marshall finished the game 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored. Her triple in the fourth inning was her 80th hit of the season, setting a new Miami single-season record. The previous record of 79 hits was set by Halle Popson in 2007.
Edwards finished the contest 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Lee was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while McChesney was 2-for-2 with one RBI and one run scored. Logemann gave up one earned run on five hits in 5.0 innings pitched. She struck out eight in earning her 25th win of the season.
The second game started well for the RedHawks as they scored three runs in the top of the first. With one out, McChesney doubled to right center. McCarver doubled to left center, scoring McChesney and putting Miami on the board. One batter later, junior outfielder Taylor Shuey singled up the middle to score McCarver. A single from Edwards moved Shuey up to second, while a double from senior designated player Megan Mattera scored Shuey and gave the Red and White a 3-0 advantage.
The score remained that way until the bottom of the third when the Norse hit a three-run home run off starter Kelsey Fredericks. Edwards came into the game in relief, and NKU followed with a solo home run to take the lead for the first time at 4-3. The Norse would go on to score one more run in the bottom of the fourth to complete their scoring.
Miami recorded 11 hits total for the game as it loaded the bases in the fifth and had runners on second and third in the top of the seventh. Each time however, Northern Kentucky made a strong defensive play to get out of the jam and in the end secure the win.
McIntyre finished the nightcap 3-for-4. Mattera was 2-for-4 with one RBI, while Shuey was 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored.
Miami completes the regular season at home with single games against Ball State on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. At the conclusion of Saturday’s game, the RedHawks will hold a free clinic for kids ages 8-12. Prior to Sunday’s contest, Miami’s six seniors will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
