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OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University softball team dodged the raindrops to earn a doubleheader sweep of Buffalo on Friday. The RedHawks took the opener, 6-0. They then held on for a 9-8 victory in the nightcap. Miami improves to 20-12 overall and 4-0 in the Mid-American Conference. The Bulls fall to 7-24 overall and 0-4 in the MAC.
Junior pitcher Amber Logemann was in control throughout the entire first game. She earned her second complete game shutout of the season, allowing only three hits. Only two Buffalo runners were able to reach third base against her; while she struck out three.
Miami got the majority of its runs right away when it scored five in the bottom of the first. Senior outfielder Tiyona Marshall led off with a walk. After an out was recorded, sophomore second baseman Eryn McCarver also drew a walk. A sacrifice bunt by senior first baseman Shanyn McIntyre moved the runners up a base. Junior outfielder Taylor Shuey singled through the left side to score Marshall and McCarver and put the RedHawks on the board.
The inning continued with senior outfielder Bree Lipscomb and freshman catcher Rylee Whispel drawing back-to-back walks to load the bases. A single to centerfield by freshman third baseman Kat Lee brought home both Lipscomb and Shuey to make it 4-0. The Bulls changed pitchers, but senior shortstop Kylie McChesney immediately singled up the middle to score Whispel and give Miami a 5-0 advantage.
The RedHawks scored one more in the bottom of the fifth when a sacrifice fly to deep right field by Whispel allowed Shuey to come home and finish off the 6-0 win.
Shuey finished the opener 1-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Lee also had two RBI for Miami.
Logemann came back out to throw in the second game. The Bulls finally got to her in the top of the first with two walks and a home run to jump to an early 3-0 lead.
The RedHawks fought right back as once again they plated five runs in the bottom of the first. Marshall led off with a single to left center. A sacrifice bunt by junior designated player Tanya Busby moved her over to second. A single through the right side by McCarver scored Marshall and cut the Miami deficit to 3-1. McIntyre grounded the ball to shortstop, but the second baseman dropped the throw on the force attempt so both runners were safe. An infield single by Shuey loaded the bases with only one out.
A fly ball to leftfield gave Buffalo its second out of the inning. Whispel was hit by a pitch forcing home McCarver. Lee followed by drawing a walk, forcing home McIntyre and tying the score at three. On the next play, McChesney grounded to short, but the shortstop bobbled the ball allowing Shuey to score. She then threw it into centerfield, allowing Whispel to come home and give the ‘Hawks a 5-3 advantage.
The score remained that way until the bottom of the fourth. Marshall led off with an infield single. A groundout by Busby moved her up a base. A single through the left side by McCarver moved Marshall up to third. Marshall scored on the next play when the Bulls second baseman mishandled a McIntyre’s grounder. Shuey grounded out to second base, allowing McCarver to score and making it 7-3.
Buffalo got one back off of Logemann in the top of the fifth. Miami completed its scoring with single runs in each of the next two innings. In the bottom of the fifth, Marshall singled up the middle to score sophomore Jenna Jones. In the bottom of the sixth, a single to leftfield by Shuey scored McIntyre and made it 9-4.
Senior pitcher Megan Mattera came on in relief in the top of the sixth and retired the Bulls in order. Buffalo’s offense came alive in the top of the seventh, however. With two outs and a runner on first base, the Bulls recorded a walk and three straight hits to score four runs and pull within one at 9-8. With two outs and a runner on second, Logemann came back in. She got the next batter to ground the ball right back to her to finish off the victory.
Shuey finished the nightcap 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored. Marshall and McCarver were each 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored.
Logemann allowed four runs on five hits in 5.1 innings pitched to earn her second victory of the day. She is now 16-5 on the season.
Miami returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Kent State for a single game beginning at 2 p.m. It can be seen live on Miami All-Access for those who have a subscription.
