Western Illinois Box (PDF) | IUPUI Box (PDF)

OXFORD, Ohio -- The Miami University softball team suffered a pair of tough defeats to conclude play at its home Miami Invitational on Sunday. The RedHawks dropped a 2-1 decision to Western Illinois in the opener, and fell 10-1 in five innings to IUPUI in the nightcap. Miami is now 7-8 on the season.

The opener was a classic pitcher's duel between Miami junior Carly Mortensen and Western Illinois' Emily Ira. The game did not start out that way as freshman shortstop Michaela Schlattman led off the game with her sixth home run of the season, a solo shot over the right field wall that made it 1-0. That would be all the RedHawks would be manage as Ira allowed only one other hit the rest of the game, a first inning double to freshman first baseman Johniann Wahl.

Mortensen pitched strong the first six innings, allowing only a third inning run on a walk, a sacrifice bunt and a single. In the bottom of the seventh, the Leathernecks loaded the bases with two outs. Tierney Bottino then hit an infield single to shortstop, reaching first just before throw. That allowed the run to score and gave Western Illinois a 2-1 win.

Mortensen finished the game allowing two runs on six hits in 6.2 innings pitched. She struck out three.

IUPUI scored on a two out hit in the top of the first to begin the nightcap. Miami fought right back with a run of its own in the bottom of the second. Junior designated player Lauren Anderson led off with a double to right center. Senior third baseman Hailey Reed followed with a single to shortstop. A bunt by sophomore outfielder Kaitlyn Gliha resulted in Anderson being retired at third base. Junior outfielder Jenna Jones was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. That set the stage for freshman outfielder Anna Geary to send a fly ball to leftfield, allowing Reed to score on the sacrifice.

The Jaguars broke the game open with four runs in the top of the third on a pair of two two-run home runs. They then went on to score five more runs in the top of the fifth to take a 10-1 lead and end the game via the run rule.

Wahl, Anderson and Reed each recorded hits for the RedHawks in the nightcap.

Miami heads to Stillwater, Oklahoma to participate in the Mizuno Classic next weekend. On Friday, the RedHawks will take on Cleveland State at 4 p.m. (EDT) and the host Oklahoma State at 6:30 p.m. (EDT). On Saturday, Miami will have rematches with Cleveland State at 1 p.m. (EDT) and Oklahoma State at 6 p.m. (EDT).