AKRON, Ohio – The Miami University softball team (35-15, 16-4 MAC) fell to No. 3 Ohio (34-19, 12-8 MAC) by a 3-7 margin on Friday in the MAC Tournament semifinals. The loss snaps a 14-game win streak for the RedHawks.
Miami 3, Ohio 7
Brianna Pratt started the game in the circle for the RedHawks. Pratt pitched two complete innings, giving up no runs on two strikeouts. She did not walk anyone and struck out two.
Courtney Vierstra came into the game as relief to start the third inning. She pitched four and two-thirds innings, giving up all seven runs on eight hits and a walk. Vierstra struck out six batters.
Taylor Rathe relieved Vierstra with two down in the seventh inning. She gave up no runs on one hit.
Ohio put runners on second and third with a single and a double in the first inning but Pratt ended the inning with a strikeout.
Miami got onto the scoreboard first, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
Lily Wilmot drew a lead-off walk before scoring from first on a two-out RBI double by
Hannah Obrey.
The Bobcats hit a lead-off single in the third, but
Kara Leckinger caught the runner stealing second in between two strikeouts from Vierstra to end the inning.
The RedHawks added a run in the third inning to increase their lead to 2-0.
Ashton Slone singled and
Johniann Wahl doubled to put runners on second and third with one out. Slone scored on a sacrifice fly from Leckinger.
Ohio tied the game at two runs with two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Two singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with one down. An RBI single scored both runs before back-to-back defensive plays ended the inning.
The game was tied at two until the top of the seventh when the Bobcats put up five runs to take a 7-2 lead. An RBI double brought in the first run before a grand slam capped Ohio's scoring.
Miami scored once in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run by
Morgan Lott.
Lott (2-of-4, double, HR) led Miami's offense while Wahl and Leckinger also hit doubles. Obrey and Leckinger had the other RBI's.
UP AHEAD
Miami will play the winner of the No. 2 Kent State vs. No. 7 Toledo game on Saturday morning at 10:30 for a chance to play in the championship.
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