KENT, Ohio – The Miami University softball team (21-14, 6-4 MAC) were shutout by league-leader Kent State (18-18, 8-2 MAC) by a 3-0 margin on Friday to open the three-game series.

Miami 0, Kent State 3

Courtney Vierstra was the RedHawks' starting pitcher. She pitched her 10 th complete game of the year, giving up three runs on nine hits and no walks. Vierstra stuck out nine batters to exceed her season total from 2018. Her 163 strikeouts this season rank ninth in program history.

It was a pitchers' duel through the first two innings as each team got only one baserunner. Kent State scored two runs on three hits in the bottom of the third inning to get onto the scoreboard first.

In the top of the fourth, Ashton Slone garnered a one-out walk followed by Miami's first hit of the game, a single by Johniann Wahl. Miami left runners on first and third to end the inning.

The Golden Flashes added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning as a batter beats out a throw to first and a runner beats out the throw home on the same play.

Haeley Tran, Kara Leckinger and Wahl all recorded a hit while Tran, Slone and Jenny Vasquez earned walks.

UP AHEAD

Miami and Kent State conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.