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AKRON, Ohio – The third-seeded Miami University softball team fought to the last out, but it could not overcome an early seven-run deficit as it fell to second seed Ball State, 8-5, at the Mid-American Conference Tournament on Thursday. The RedHawks are now 32-23 on the season, while the Cardinals improve to 30-23.
With the loss Miami will take on fifth seed Western Michigan in an elimination game on Friday at 10:30 a.m. If the ‘Hawks are able to win that contest, they will have another elimination game later that evening at 6 p.m.
Ball State struck first in the bottom of the first inning when it hit back-to-back home runs off of Miami starting pitcher Amber Logemann to take 3-0 lead.
The RedHawks got one run back in the top of the third when senior shortstop Kylie McChesney scored off a throwing error from the Ball State shortstop. However, the Cardinals came back with five runs in the bottom of the frame off of Logemann and relief pitcher Kelsey Fredericks to increase their advantage to 8-1.
With one out in the top of the fourth, senior third baseman Remy Edwards hit a single down the leftfield line. Senior outfielder Bree Lipscomb then drew a walk. After a strikeout, freshman Kaitlyn Gliha came into the game to pinch-hit. She singled through the right side to score Edwards and make it 8-2.
The RedHawks continued to fight back with two more runs in the top of the fifth. With two outs, senior first baseman Shanyn McIntyre singled up the middle. Junior outfielder Taylor Shuey followed with her first home run of the year, a two-run shot over the right field fence that pulled Miami to within four at 8-4.
Still down by four in the top of the seventh, junior designated player Tanya Busby singled with one out. Sophomore second baseman Eryn McCarver then reached on a fielding error. After an out was recorded, Shuey hit a single to short. Busby was able to come all the way around to score on the hit and make it 8-5. With Edwards at the plate representing the tying run, she hit a blooper towards right field. The Ball State outfielder was able to make a shoestring catch on the ball for the third out to secure the victory.
Shuey finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI and one run scored. Fredericks was strong in relief, allowing only one run on three hits in 4.0 innings pitched.
