OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University softball team (30-14, 13-4 MAC) hosts the Akron Zips (13-28-2, 3-15 MAC) for a three-game series this weekend that marks the conclusion of regular-season play. Friday's game is scheduled for 1 p.m. while Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

SENIOR AND ALUMNAE WEEKEND

This weekend, the RedHawks will honor the graduating senior class as well as welcome back alumnae.

Friday is Alumnae Day and is a White Out. Before first pitch at 3 p.m., Miami will honor its alumnae on the field and two will throw out the first pitch. Fans will learn about the alumnae in attendance with fun facts and trivia questions in between innings.

Saturday is Senior Day and is a Red Out. After the national anthem, the senior players and their families will be recognized on the field prior to first pitch.

MIAMI COMING OFF SWEEP OF MID-WEEK DOUBLEHEADER

The RedHawks swept the mid-week doubleheader at Northern Kentucky on Tuesday, winning the first game by a 5-1 margin before winning the second 3-2 in eight innings.

Miami out-hit NKU 12-4 in the first game with eight RedHawks getting a hit. Jenny Vasquez, Lily Wilmot, Haeley Tran and Adriana Barlow each had two hits while Barlow also picked up two RBI. Courtney Vierstra earned the win, pitching the first five innings and striking out 10 before being relieved by Brianna Pratt.

The RedHawks and Norse needed eight innings to decide game two. Miami scored two in the top of the third but NKU scored two unearned runs in the bottom half of the inning. Johniann Wahl hit the game-winning run in with a single in the top of the eighth. Taylor Rathe was the starting pitcher and Vierstra came into the game as relief to pick up the win. Wilmot and Jada Dotson both went 2-of-3 while Ashton Slone tallied two RBI and Mackenzie Moore scored twice.

MILESTONE MARKERS CONTINUE TO BE PASSED

In the doubleheader at NKU, Morgan Lott hit her sixth triple of the season, which is tied for the most in a single season in program history. Lott now has eight career triples, taking sole possession of seventh.

Vierstra stuck out 14 batters at Northern Kentucky to increase her season total to 208, which is tied for the fifth-most strikeouts in a single season.

OPPONENT PREVIEW

Akron is coming off of a doubleheader split at Bowling Green last weekend. The Zips fell by a 2-3 margin in 10 innings in the first game on Saturday before taking the second game 5-1. Kayla Wulf led the Akron offense in the first game, getting two of the team's six hits, while Adrian Smith pitched the complete game. Laura Lakins (3-of-3, RBI, run, walk) and Maddy Clowdus (2-of-2, 2 RBI, walk) were both perfect at the play in the 5-1 win while Mikayla Newland pitched the complete game.

Sydney Jascoe leads the Akron offense in batting average (.396), home runs (9), RBI (26), total bases (72), slugging percentage (.750) and on-base percentage (.478) this season. Adrian Smith leads the Zips pitching staff in ERA (4.50), wins (8), appearances (30), games started (25), complete games (10), innings pitched (129.0), strikeouts (102) and opponents' batting average (.271).