Miami University
Robert Morris
Miami Dominates Doubleheader
3/16/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami University softball team opened the Miami Invitational on Friday with two very impressive performances, beating Fort Wayne 9-4 and Robert Morris 16-1 in five innings. The RedHawks improve to 10-9 on the season.
Miami 9, Fort Wayne 4
The RedHawks got the bats swinging early and often, taking a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Megan Wurts got a lead-off walk and stole second. Haeley Tran hit a single that advanced Wurts to third. Tran was caught stealing at second, which allowed Wurts to score. Ashton Slone got on base with a walk and Johniann Wahl singled to advance Slone to third. Kat Lee drove Slone home on a single. Lee and Wahl advanced on a passed ball and scored on a throwing error that brought Rylee Whispel to second base.
In the second inning, Miami added two runs to its lead to make it a 6-0 game. Wurts and Tran both singled and advanced on a Robert Morris error that saw Slone reach first. Wahl walked with the bases loaded to add a run. A single from Lee drove in another Miami run.
Courtney Vierstra started in the circle for the RedHawks. In the third inning, Vierstra saw three up and three down and struck out all three batters for her strongest inning of the afternoon. Vierstra struck out six batters in four innings while only giving up one earned run, no walks and four hits.
Taylor Rathe replaced Vierstra for the remaining three innings, striking out three and walking one, while only giving up five hits and two runs.
The RedHawks added a run to their total in the fifth inning on a single from Wurts with Kaitlyn Gliha on base.
Miami scored its final two runs in the sixth. Wahl hit her third homerun of the season - a solo shot. Lee scored on a single from the bat of Morgan Lott.
Wurts (3-for-3, walk) and Wahl (2-for-2, two walks) led the RedHawks at the plate, each getting to base on all four trips to the plate. Tran (2-for-3, walk) and Lee (2-for-3, walk) each hit the ball twice and got on base three times.
Miami 16, Robert Morris 1 (5 inn.)
Miami took control of the game with its five runs in the second inning and sealed its victory with a nine-run fifth inning. Shannon Hohman pitched the complete game, striking out three and earning no runs.
In the second, Lee reached base on an error and Gliha was hit by a pitch. Kara Leckinger put up a sacrifice bunt to advance Lee and Gliha to scoring position. Lily Wilmot hit a single that drove them both home. Mackenzie Moore, Wurts, Tran and Slone singled one after another and brought home another handful of runs to make it a 5-0 game.
Gliha singled in the third inning and was brought around by a single from Moore.
Leckinger hit a single with the bases loaded and two outs to drive in a run in the fourth inning.
In the ninth inning, Moore started the bats with a single, with a triple from Wurts bringing her around. Wurts scored on a single from Tran. Slone walked to load the bases. Wahl hit a three-run shot, her second home run of the day. Gliha walked, Wilmot reached base on error and Moore walked to load the bases again. This time, Wurts hit it out of the park - a grand slam.
Wurts (3-for-4, five RBI, one walk) led the RedHawks at the plate. Tran, Slone, Gliha and Moore all recorded multi-hit games. Nine different RedHawks made it on base.
UP AHEAD
The RedHawks continue the Miami Invitational on Saturday with games against Michigan at 4 p.m. and Fort Wayne at 6:30 p.m. Live stats and stream links can be found on the Miami softball schedule page. Follow @MiamiOH_SB for live updates.
.@RedHawkCoachC talks about what went well against Fort Wayne and Robert Morris today and what Miami needs to do tomorrow. #RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/X160m1R8QN
- Miami Softball (@MiamiOH_SB) March 17, 2018
