KENT, Ohio – The Miami University softball team (23-14, 8-4 MAC) swept its doubleheader against MAC-leader Kent State (18-20, 8-4 MAC) on Saturday to win the series. Miami won game one by a 4-3 margin in a marathon 14-inning contest before dominating game two by a 16-3 margin.

Miami 4, Kent State 3 (14 inn.)

Brianna Pratt was the RedHawks' starting pitcher in game one and re-entered the game to start the ninth. She pitched a total of 9.1 innings, giving up no runs on 10 hits and three walks. Pratt struck out five.

Taylor Rathe replaced Pratt in the circle with one out in the bottom of the fourth and runners on first and second. She finished the fourth inning and earned one out in the fifth inning to total one inning of work. Rathe gave up one run on two hits and no walks.

Courtney Vierstra came into the game as relief with one out in the bottom of the fifth and a runner on first. She pitched three and two-thirds innings, giving up two runs on five hits and a walk and added a strikeout.

Miami struck first with a run in the third on a trio of hits. Haeley Tran started things off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Tran scored on an RBI from Morgan Lott. Ashton Slone singled to advance Lott to third but that's where the runners would be left to end the inning.

Kent State tied the game at one in the bottom of the fifth on a one-out solo shot. After a single, Vierstra replaced Rathe in the circle and finished off the inning with no more damage done.

Miami's defense got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth with a quick force-out play at second to keep the game tied after six complete innings.

The RedHawks took a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh. Lily Wilmot drew a lead-off walk. She advanced to second on a wild pitch and third on a sacrifice bunt from the bat of Jada Dotson. Mackenzie Moore hit an RBI single to score Wilmot.

Kent State tied the game for a second time with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to force extra innings. The home run was hit with two outs.

Miami scored one in the top of the eighth to take a 3-2 lead. Jenny Vasquez drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a single by Kara Leckinger. Adriana Barlow pinch ran for Leckinger. Vasquez and Leckinger advanced on a wild pitch that put runners on second and third with one out. Wilmot hit a sacrifice fly to score Vasquez.

For the third time this game, the Golden Flashes tied the game with a solo shot – this time in the bottom of the eighth.

The game remained tied at three as the RedHawks defense stood tall, getting two force-out plays in the 11^th inning to prevent the walk-off win by Kent State as the bases were left loaded.

Miami would win the game with its run in the top of the 14^th inning. Dotson reached on a fielding error but was picked off for the first out. Moore singled but was out at second as Tran reached first on a fielder's choice. Tran advanced to second on a wild pitch and third on a single from the bat of Lott. Slone hit the two-out RBI single to drive in the winning run before the inning ended with a force-out at third.

Slone and Lott led the Miami offense with three hits and an RBI each. Leckinger and Moore also had multi-hit games. Moore and Wilmot had the other two RBI.

Miami 16, Kent State 3 (5 inn.)

Rathe got the start in the circle for the final game of the series. She pitched two innings and allowed one run on three hits. Rathe had two strikeouts.

Pratt replaced Rathe to start the third. Pratt finished the game, giving up two runs on two hits and a walk. She added three strikeouts.

Miami scored six runs in the top of the first inning to take the early 6-0 lead. Tran hit a lead-off single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Lott. Slone walked to put runners on first and second with one out. Johniann Wahl reached base on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a throwing error that saw Slone to third and Tran across home plate. Vasquez hit an RBI single to score Slone and advance Wahl to third. Wilmot walked to load the bases with two outs. Dotson hit a grand slam to clear the bases and chase the Kent State starter from the circle.

The RedHawks added five runs in the top of the second to stretch the lead to 11-0. Lott and Wahl hit singles to put runners on first and second with two outs. Vasquez hit her eighth home run of the season to score three. Leckinger singled and scored on a home run from Wilmot. Kent State changed to its third pitcher of the game. Vasquez's eight home runs this season is tied for the ninth-most in a single season in program history.

Miami increased its lead to 14-1 in the top of the third with three more runs. Tran and Lott led off with back-to-back singles. Three-straight RBI doubles by Slone, Wahl and Vasquez brought in the three runs of the inning. Leckinger and Dotson were walked to load the bases but the bases were left loaded after Kent State switched to its fourth pitcher of the game.

Lott made it a 15-1 ball game with a solo home run in the fourth inning. Kent State scored two runs on a pair of singles and a walk in the bottom half of the inning.
Leckinger capped the game's scoring with a solo shot in the fifth inning.

Miami had a season-high five home runs as a team, hit by Lott, Vasquez, Leckinger, Wilmot and Dotson. Dotson's home run was a grand slam to give her four RBI on the game. Vasquez led the team with a season-high five RBI. Lott, Wahl and Vasquez led the offense with three hits each.

UP AHEAD

Miami hosts Buffalo for a three-game series next Friday and Saturday. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. The Miami softball team is partnering with Soap for Hope and the Oxford Food Pantry to collect donations of unopened shampoo, soaps, toothpaste, lotion and canned food at all three games.