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AKRON, Ohio – The Miami University softball team once again battled to the very end, but a sixth-inning rally by Western Michigan led the Broncos to a 5-4 victory in the Mid-American Conference Tournament on Friday to eliminate the RedHawks. Miami finishes the season at 32-24, while WMU improves to 23-25.
The RedHawks struck first in the bottom of the second. With one out, senior third baseman Remy Edwards singled to right field. A sacrifice bunt by senior outfielder Bree Lipscomb moved her up to second. Freshman catcher Rylee Whispel followed with a clutch two-out single to right field to score Edwards and give Miami a 1-0 lead.
Senior outfielder Tiyona Marshall led off the bottom of the third with a single to centerfield. A groundout from junior designated player Tanya Busby moved her to second. After the second out was recorded, senior first baseman Shanyn McIntyre hit a grounder to short. The WMU first baseman dropped the ball on the throw, allowing McIntyre to reach safely. On the error, Marshall came home to score to put the Red and White in front, 2-0.
The Broncos tied up the score on a two-run home run in the top of the fourth off of Miami starting pitcher Amber Logemann.
With two outs in the bottom of thee fifth, sophomore second baseman Eryn McCarver hit a single to leftfield. McIntyre followed with a single through the left side. Junior outfielder Taylor Shuey then hit an infield single to first base. On a heads-up play, McCarver came all the way around from second base to score to put the ‘Hawks back in front, 3-2.
Western Michigan used small ball to begin its rally in the top of the sixth. After a leadoff single, a pair of bunt singles allowed the Broncos to load the bases with no one out. Melissa Palmer then hit a double to right field to score two and give WMU the lead for the first time. Later in the inning, a sacrifice fly put the Broncos in front, 5-3.
Miami proved it was going to go out without a fight in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, McCarver started the RedHawks’ comeback attempt when she was hit by a pitch. McIntyre moved her up a base with a single through the right side. Shuey scored McCarver with a single up the middle. Edwards was then walked to load the bases and force Western Michigan to reinsert their starting pitcher, Allyson Kus. Kus was able to get a fly out to centerfield to end the threat and give the Broncos a 5-4 win.
Shuey finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while McIntyre was 3-for-4 with one RBI. McCarver was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
In her final contest, Marshall was 1-for-4 with one run scored. This year she set single-season Miami records in batting average (.446), total hits (86) and runs scored (50).
For all the latest offseason news on the RedHawk softball team, be sure to check MURedHawks.com and their official Twitter page, @MIamiOH_SB.
