OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University softball team (21-13, 6-3 MAC) travels to Kent State (17-18, 7-2 MAC) for a three-game series this weekend. The teams will play one game on Friday, scheduled for 3 p.m. There will be a doubleheader on Saturday, scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

MIAMI EARNS FIRST MAC SWEEP

The RedHawks are coming off their first conference sweep this season, beating Bowling Green by a 2-0 margin on Wednesday to complete the three-game series. Brianna Pratt and Courtney Vierstra combined for the shutout in the circle and 13 strikeouts. Jenny Vasquez and Haeley Tran each picked up an RBI – Vasquez's coming on her seventh home run of the season. Morgan Lott went 2-of-2 plus a walk and stole a team-high two bases.

THE BIG THREE CONTINUE TO IMPRESS

Miami's pitching staff ranks second in the conference in ERA (3.10), while leading the league in strikeouts (256), runs (116), earned runs (99), doubles (27), triples (2), home runs (17) and opponents' batting average (.233).

Vierstra leads the staff in top-10 rankings in the MAC with appearances in seven categories, including being second in strikeouts (154), strikeouts looking (42) and saves (4). Freshman Pratt has cracked the top 10 in three categories, including being sixth in wins (10). Taylor Rathe is also in the top 10 in three categories, including being tied for seventh in opponents' batting average (.227).

OFFENSE PROVING VERSATILITY

The RedHawks make 11 appearances in the top-10 in the conference in nine different categories by five different players. Ashton Slone leads the pack with five appearances, ranking fourth in on-base percentage (.491), sixth in doubles (11) and seventh in batting average (.387), slugging percentage (.667) and RBI (26).

OPPONENT PREVIEW

Kent State holds a 17-18 overall record but a 7-2 record in conference play. The Golden Flashes are coming off a series with against Ohio with a 1-0 win on Wednesday after splitting the doubleheader last Tuesday. Kent State was out-hit 6-4 by Ohio in the win and scored the lone run of the game on a fielding error by the Bobcats. Andrea Scali pitched the complete-game shutout, giving up six hits and two walks while striking out five. Last weekend Kent State swept the series at Western Michigan.

Scali leads the Golden Flashes' pitching staff this season in ERA (3.04), wins (12), appearances (21), games started (17), complete games (13), shutouts (5), saves (2), innings pitched (108.1), strikeouts (156) and opponents' batting average (.207). She also leads the staff in conference play in ERA (1.50), wins (5), appearances (7), games started (6), complete games (5), shutouts (1), saves (1), innings pitched (42.0), strikeouts (55) and opponents' batting average (.203).
Bailey Brownfield leads the Kent State offense in batting average (.343), hits (34), doubles (12), RBI (19) and total bases (49). In conference play, her sister Brenna Brownfield leads the offense in batting average (.500), hits (12), doubles (5), triples (1), home runs (2), RBI (9), total bases (25), slugging percentage (1.042) and on-base percentage (.538).