Box Score

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AKRON, Ohio ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃÆ'¢'¬" In a game that began five hours after its scheduled start time, the Miami University softball team was eliminated from the 2017 Mid-American Conference Softball Championship by the University of Akron, 10-2, in five innings Friday morning at Firestone Stadium.

The RedHawks (29-24 overall, 14-10 MAC) were unable to get their offense going, only mustering two hits against Zips starter Lexie Handley. The Zips (27-29, 12-12 MAC) tallied just six hits in the contest, but five RBIs from senior outfielder Savannah Fruin allowed them to pull away.

Akron struck first in the top of the first as Fruin homered to center field, making it 1-0 Zips. In the bottom half, Miami quickly put two runners in scoring position as junior left fielder Kaitlyn Gliha and junior third baseman Kat Lee reached on consecutive walks. Unfortunately, the Zips induced a double play that stopped the Miami threat.

The Zips added to their lead in the top of the second as they loaded the bases, eventually plating a run with a hit-by-pitch. In the next at-bat, Fruin picked up two more RBIs with a single up the middle, bringing the score to 4-0.

In the third, senior righthander Carly Mortensen entered the game for Miami and calmed the Akron bats, only allowing a batter to reach on a hit-by-pitch. In the bottom half, the RedHawks began to fight back, beginning with senior second baseman Eryn McCarver reaching on an error, followed by a two-run home run to right-center by sophomore shortstop Michaela Schlattman. Lee attempted to continue the rally, reaching on a walk and stealing second, but a strikeout stemmed any further scoring.

Akron responded in the fourth as Fruin homered for the second time, a two-run shot to left that rebuilt the lead at 6-2. In the fifth, the Zips loaded the bases with one out, adding three more runs with a walk and drop-in single. Freshman Jaime Scher entered the game for Mortensen and on her first pitch, an error by junior catcher Rylee Whispel allowed another run to score, making it 10-2 Akron. In the bottom half of the inning, the RedHawks were retired in order, sealing the game and concluding their season.

In the loss, Hohman allowed three hits and four runs over two innings of work, dropping her final record to 6-9. In her final appearance for Miami, Mortensen struck out three, but gave up five earned runs in 2.1 innings. For the RedHawks' offense, Schlattman batted 1-for-3 with her home run providing Miami's lone runs.

Akron advances to another elimination game against No. 8 Western Michigan tomorrow at 1 p.m. In another elimination matchup, top-seeded Central Michigan faces third-seeded Northern Illinois at 10:30 a.m. No. 2 Ohio will take on No. 4 Kent State at 3:30 p.m., with the winner advancing to Saturday's championship game.

Check MiamiRedHawks.com throughout the offseason for all information about Miami softball.

Thursday, May 11
No. 1 Central Michigan 3, No. 5 Ball State 0 ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃÆ'¢'¬" Ball State eliminated
No. 4 Kent State 9, No. 8 Western Michigan 3
No. 2 Ohio 1, No. 3 Northern Illinois 0
No. 7 Akron 10, No. 6 Miami 2 (5 inn.) ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃÆ'¢'¬" Miami eliminated

Friday May 12
No. 1 Central Michigan vs. No. 3 Northern Illinois ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃÆ'¢'¬" 10:30 a.m.
No. 7 Akron vs. No. 8 Western Michigan ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃÆ'¢'¬" 1 p.m.
No. 2 Ohio vs. No. 4 Kent State ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃÆ'¢'¬" 3:30 p.m.
CMU / NIU vs. AKR / WMU ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃÆ'¢'¬" 6 p.m.