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OXFORD, Ohio ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃÆ'¢'¬" In a back-and-forth affair, Miami University's softball team grinded out a series sweep over the University at Buffalo with an 8-5 victory Saturday afternoon at the Miami Softball Stadium.

The RedHawks (26-17, 12-6 MAC) held onto first place in the Mid-American Conference East Division by rallying twice in the contest, following a pair of surges from the Bulls (8-40, 3-15 MAC).

Buffalo struck quickly in the top of the first as sophomore first baseman Catrell Robertson hit a two-run home run to left off Miami senior starter Carly Mortensen. In the bottom half of the inning, Miami loaded the bases with one out, allowing sophomore shortstop Michaela Schlattman to bring home junior right fielder Megan Wurts on a RBI sacrifice fly.

Following a pair of quiet innings, the Miami offense reignited in the bottom of the fourth to put the Red and White ahead. Schlattman doubled to lead off the frame, eventually scoring on a RBI double from junior third baseman Kat Lee. After a single by senior center fielder Jenna Jones, Wurts put the RedHawks ahead with a two-run single up the middle.

Freshman Jaime Scher relieved Mortensen to begin the fifth and allowed the first two UB batters to reach. The Bulls then tied the game at 4 with a two-run double down the left field line by junior third baseman Danielle Lallos. In the next at-bat, they regained the lead at 5-4 with a RBI sac fly to right.

The RedHawks soon responded as Buffalo inserted righthander Charlotte Miller, who was promptly removed after walking Wahl and hitting senior catcher Lauren Anderson. After a pair of infield flies, Lee tallied her second RBI of the day with a single to left that scored junior pinch runner Alyssa Hedric, tying the contest at 5. Finally, Jones gave Miami the lead for good with a three-run homer to left, making it 8-5.

Buffalo would threaten sophomore reliever Shannon Hohman in their final two plate appearances, but the Bulls would strand two runners in both situations, wrapping up Miami's fourth win in their last five outings.

Jones finished 2-for-3 with the game-winning home run, while Wurts went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs and a run. Scher improved to 5-4 with her second win of the weekend and Hohman picked up her third save of the season.

The RedHawks return to the road this week for a pair of in-state trips. On Tuesday, April 25, Miami travels the short distance to face Wright State University in a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. Following that, the Red and White have a critical three-game set at Ohio University with action beginning on Friday at 5 p.m.