OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University softball team (14-12, 1-2 MAC) split its doubleheader against Central Michigan (11-15, 2-1 MAC) on Saturday to conclude the three-game series. The first game of the day went to Central Michigan by a 4-3 margin in eight innings before Miami took the second game of the doubleheader by a 7-3 margin.

Miami 3, Central Michigan 4 (8 inn.)

Taylor Rathe started the game in the circle for the RedHawks. She pitched ­­­­six complete innings and faced one batter in the seventh inning. Rathe gave up only one earned run on four hits, while striking out two and walking one.

Courtney Vierstra replaced Rathe in the circle after the first batter of the seventh inning and finished the game. Vierstra gave up two runs, but neither was earned. She walked two batters and struck out three.

Central Michigan scored in the top of the first to take an early 1-0 lead. The lead-off batter walked and another reached base on a fielder's choice that put runners on first and second with one out. CMU scored on a single down the left-field line.

Miami's defense forced Central Michigan to go three up, three down in the second, third and fourth innings before CMU could get another base runner.

The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the sixth inning when Miami took its first lead of the day. Mackenzie Moore led off with a single and beat out the throw to second that saw Morgan Lott safe at first on a bunt. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Haeley Tran. Ashton Slone loaded the bases with one out on a walk. Johniann Wahl brought both Moore and Lott home on an RBI single down the left-field line.

Central Michigan tied the game at two in the top of the seventh inning on a fielding error before taking a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning.

Miami tied the game in the seventh inning to force extra innings for the second-straight game. Moore singled with one out and scored on a double from Tran. The RedHawks loaded the bases but could not break the tie.

The Chippewas took a 4-3 lead in the top of the eighth as fielding errors proved costly for the RedHawks.

Tran and Moore led the Miami offense with two hits apiece. Moore also scored twice. Wahl had two RBI.

Miami 7, Central Michigan 3

Brianna Pratt pitched the complete game for the RedHawks. She held a shutout through six and two-thirds innings. Pratt gave up five hits and four walks but struck out two batters.

Lily Wilmot threw out the third batter of the second inning as she tried to squeeze out a double, forcing Central Michigan to go three up, three down. Kara Leckinger led off Miami's at-bat with a double but was out as part of a double play.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third, when Miami took a 3-0 lead. Adriana Barlow and Haeley Tran each singled and advanced to second and third on a sacrifice bunt from Lott. Slone walked to load the bases with one out. Central Michigan changed its pitcher. The Chippewa defense got the second out of the inning with a force-out at home. Wilmot walked in the first run of the game. Leckinger batted in two more runs with her second hit of the ball game.

The RedHawks extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, beginning with a solo shot from Adriana Barlow. Tran hit a single and was brought home with a two-run shot from Lott.

Miami added one more run in the bottom of the fifth to increase the lead to 7-0. Wilmot singled and Leckinger walked to get runners on first and second. Wilmot scored as Hannah Obrey reached base on error. A double play with a tag at home would end the inning.

Central Michigan got onto the scoreboard with two outs in the top of the seventh with a three-run home run.

Tran, Leckinger and Barlow each had two hits to lead the Miami offense. Lott and Barlow each had a home run. Leckinger and Lott each tallied two RBI.

UP AHEAD

The RedHawks are on the road for a Tuesday doubleheader at Wright State. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.