OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University softball team (16-12, 1-2 MAC) begins the week of competition on the road against Bowling Green on Tuesday. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.

The RedHawks went 2-0 last week, sweeping the doubleheader at Wright State on Tuesday. Miami shutout the Raiders in the first game by a 6-0 margin, out-hitting them 11-3. Courtney Vierstra pitched the complete game to earn the shutout, striking out a career-high 16 batters. With her double in the first inning, Johniann Wahl became the program's all-time leader in career doubles with 37. The RedHawks won the second game by a 4-2 margin.

Miami's pitchers – Vierstra, Brianna Pratt and Taylor Rathe combined for a 0.00 ERA last week. Ashton Slone and Haeley Tran led the RedHawks offense, each batting .625 and having the same on-base percentage plus a stolen base. Slone also led the team in RBI (4), total bases (9) and slugging percentage (1.125).

This season, Slone leads Miami's offense in batting average (.392), doubles (9), RBI (20), slugging percentage (.676), walks (16) and on-base percentage (.505). Vierstra leads the pitchers in ERA (2.58), appearances (18), complete games (7), innings pitched (78.2), strikeouts (121) and opponents' batting average (.219).

OPPONENT PREVIEW

Bowling Green holds a 13-17 overall record and a 1-4 record in conference play. The Falcons earned their first MAC win of the season in the series opener against Toledo on Friday, winning by a 3-2 margin despite being out-hit 6-5 by the Rockets. Bowling Green dropped the second and final game against Toledo by a 4-13 margin.

Meredith Miller pitched the complete game in the 3-2 win, with only one of the two runs being earned. Miller also struck out nine batters. Taylor Blevins went 2-of-4 with an RBI and a run to lead the Bowling Green offense. Kellie Natham led the Falcons offense in the 4-13 loss, going 2-of-4 with three RBI and a run as one of her hits was a home run.

Miller leads the Bowling Green pitching staff this season in ERA (3.30), wins (9), appearances (22), games started (17), complete games (7), innings pitched (101.2), strikeouts (108) and opponents' batting average (.234). As a team, the Falcons bat .283, compared to the .259 of their opponents. Madi McCoy leads the BG starters in batting average (.403), home runs (7), RBI (23), total bases (50) and slugging percentage (.746).