OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University softball team (11-10) split day two of the Miami Invitational on Saturday. The RedHawks fell to Michigan State by a 2-12 margin in the first game before bouncing back against Austin Peay with a 6-2 victory in the final game of the day.

Miami 2, Michigan State 12

Brianna Pratt started the game in the circle and pitched one inning for the RedHawks. Pratt gave up six runs, though only one was earned. She gave up four hits while striking out one batter and walking two.

Taylor Rathe started the second inning in the circle in relief of Pratt. Rathe pitched the remainder six innings of the game, giving up six runs, four of which were earned, while striking out four batters and walking two.

Michigan State had a big first inning, scoring six before Miami had a chance to bat. With one out and one on, the RedHawks made a fielding error to allow runners safe on first and second. A single loaded the bases with one out and another single scored two runs. A stolen base and a walk loaded the bases again. A sacrifice fly added one run before a double cleared the bases and made it a 6-0 game in favor of the visitors.

Jenny Vasquez and Lizzie Bollinger hit singles in the first and second innings but were left on first.

Rathe forced Michigan State to go three up, three down in the top of the third before Miami got onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the third with two runs. Lott hit a one-out single before Vasquez hit her second home run of the weekend to clear the bases. Johniann Wahl hit a single but was left on first as the RedHawks trailed 2-6 after three.

Michigan State increased its lead to 8-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth on a pair of Miami fielding errors. A trio of home runs for the Spartan offense would cap scoring at 12-2.

Vasquez led the Miami offense with two hits and two RBI.

Miami 6, Austin Peay 2

Pratt also started the second game of the day in the circle for the RedHawks. She pitched 5.2 innings, giving up two runs on seven hits.

Courtney Vierstra replaced Pratt in the circle with two outs in the sixth inning. Vierstra struck out all four batters she faced to preserve the win for Miami.

Austin Peay got onto the scoreboard first with two runs in the top of the first inning that would be the only runs of the game for the visiting team. The runs were scored on a string of three singles.
Miami could not respond in the bottom of the first, even though Wahl and Ashton Slone reached base.

Austin Peay led 2-0 until the bottom of the fourth inning when the RedHawks cut the Governors' lead in half. Wahl singled and Jada Dotson pinch ran in her place. Vasquez reached first on a fielding error on her sacrifice bunt and advanced to second while Dotson advanced to third. Lily Wilmot hit a sacrifice fly to score Dotson.

Miami would take its first lead of the game, 5-2, in the bottom of the fifth. Hannah Obrey hit a lead-off single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Lott. Obrey advanced to third on a single from Haeley Tran and tied the game on a double from Slone that saw Tran to third. Vasquez hit a three-run shot to take the lead for the 'Hawks.

Vierstra replaced Pratt with runners on first and second and two outs in the top of the sixth inning but shut down Austin Peay's rally. Obrey capped scoring at 6-2 with a solo home run as Miami stranded Lott on third after a triple to end the inning.

Obrey led the Miami offense with two runs and two hits while Vasquez led with three RBI as each hit a home run.

UP AHEAD

Miami wraps up the Miami Invitational on Sunday against Dayton at 5:30 p.m. in the final game of the tournament.