DEKALB, Ill. – The Miami University softball team (19-12, 4-2 MAC) rallied to beat Northern Illinois (16-19, 3-5 MAC) by a 3-1 margin on Friday to begin the three-game series.

Miami 3, Northern Illinois 1

Courtney Vierstra pitched the complete game for the RedHawks. She gave up one run on five hits and five walks while striking out 11 batters. This is the sixth time this season Vierstra has struck out at least 10 batters in a game.

Ashton Slone singled and Johniann Wahl walked to put runners on first and second in the top of the first inning. Morgan Lott reached base on a fielding error but a tagout at home ended the RedHawks' threat.

Northern Illinois scored first, getting one run in the bottom of the first. Vierstra walked the leadoff batter before striking out the next two but not before the runner on first stole second. NIU scored on an RBI single.

The score remained 1-0 in favor of Northern Illinois for the majority of the game as the two pitchers dueled.

Miami scored three in the top of the seventh inning to take a 3-1 lead. Lott hit a double down the left field line. Kara Leckinger was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with one out. Lily Wilmot hit her second home run of the season to get Miami on the scoreboard. Jada Dotson followed Wilmot's homer with a single but the inning ended with the RedHawks in front by a 3-1 margin.

Wilmot led the Miami offense with all three RBI off a home run that scored Lott and Leckinger as well. Slone, Lott, Wilmot and Dotson each had a hit.

UP AHEAD

Miami and Northern Illinois conclude the three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.