Miami University
Cleveland State
RedHawks Split Two Games at Mizuno Classic
3/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Cleveland State Box (PDF) 
| Oklahoma State Box (PDF)
STILLWATER, Okla. -- The Miami University softball team opened up play with a split at the Mizuno Classic on Friday. The RedHawks knocked off Cleveland State in the opener, 5-1. They then nearly completed a comeback, but fell to the host Oklahoma State, 6-5. Miami is now 8-9 on the season.
Cleveland State (4-10) got on the board first with a solo home run in the bottom of first inning of the opener. It would be the only run senior pitcher Amber Logemann would allow. She shut the Vikings out the rest of the way to earn her fifth victory of the season. Logemann allowed only that one run on seven hits, while striking out seven.
Miami took advantage of seven CSU errors in the contest to come away with a victory. The Vikings made three of them in the top of the third, allowing sophomore catcher Rylee Whispel to score and tie the game at one.
The RedHawks went in front with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Senior right fielder Hailey Reed led off with a single up the middle. Three more errors on the next two batters allowed Reed to come home and put runners on second and third with no one out. That allowed a groundout by Whispel to score sophomore third baseman Kat Lee and give Miami a 3-1 lead.
Lee continued the Red and White's offensive attack in the fifth when her single to right field brought home freshman pinch-runner Chloe Melanson. In the top of the seventh, Miami completed its scoring when junior designated player Lauren Anderson hit her third home run of the year over the leftfield wall to give the RedHawks a 5-1 win.
Anderson finished the opener 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Freshman shortstop Michaela Schlattman was 2-for-3.
Miami struck first in the nightcap against Oklahoma State (9-11). In the bottom of the first (with tournament format, the RedHawks were serving as the home team for this game), freshman first baseman Johniann Wahl hit her first career home run to deep centerfield to give MU a 1-0 advantage.
The Cowgirls scored all their runs in the third and fourth innings, recording three in each frame. After surrendering three runs in the top of the fourth, junior pitcher Kelsey Fredericks calmed down and shutout Oklahoma State the rest of the way, allowing for the `Hawks to make a comeback attempt.
With freshman outfielder Anna Geary on second base and one out in the bottom of the fifth, junior second baseman Eryn McCarver reached on a bunt single. A single up the middle by Schlattman scored Geary. One batter later, Wahl singled to right field to bring home McCarver and make it 6-3.
Miami got one run closer in the bottom of the sixth when McCarver hit an infield single to shortstop that allowed Lee to score and make it 6-4.
Senior outfielder Taylor Shuey led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to right center. She advanced to third on a wild pitch. A walk to Wahl put runners on first and third with no one out. OSU retired the next two batters, but Lee followed with a single to centerfield that scored Shuey and made it a one-run game at 6-5. The comeback was not to be however, as the Cowgirls were able to get a final strikeout to secure the win.
Wahl finished the nightcap 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one run scored. Lee was 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored, while McCarver was 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.
Miami completes play at the Mizuno Classic with two rematches tomorrow. The RedHawks take on Cleveland State at 1 p.m. (EDT) and Oklahoma State at 6 p.m. (EDT).
