OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University softball team (3-2) travels to Chattanooga for the Frost Classic this weekend. The RedHawks will face five different teams, including the host Chattanooga Mocs, from Friday through Sunday.

Miami begins the tournament against UNLV on Friday with first pitch scheduled for noon. The RedHawks also face Chattanooga on Friday at 2 p.m. On Saturday, Miami plays Saint Francis at noon and Southern Illinois – Edwardsville at 4 p.m. The RedHawks wrap up play at the Frost Classic on Sunday against Saint Louis at 9 a.m.

The RedHawks opened the 2020 season with a tournament in Rosemont, Ill. from Friday, Feb. 7 through Sunday, Feb. 9, going 3-2 on the weekend. Miami earned wins against Loyola Chicago (10-8), Western Illinois (2-1, 10 innings) and IUPUI (7-3) but fell to Evansville (2-1) and Omaha (8-0, five innings).

Morgan Lott led the way for the Miami offense in batting average (.450), at-bats (20), runs (4) and hits (9), though seven different RedHawk players recorded an extra-base hit and 12 had at least one hit. Brianna Pratt led the pitching staff in earned-run average (2.76) and wins (2) while Courtney Vierstra led the staff in innings pitched (20.0), strikeouts (34) and opponents' batting average (.178). Vierstra pitched the complete-game win against Western Illinois, giving up one run in 10 innings of work. All three pitchers saw time in the circle.

OPPONENT PREVIEW

UNLV (7-4) comes into the Frost Classic off of a 5-1 weekend in the Marucci Desert Classic. The Rebels beat Montana twice, Weber State twice and split the two games with Utah Valley. UNLV outscored its opponents 33-6 last weekend, recording three shutouts. Freshman outfielder Maddie Schmidt leads the UNLV offense in batting average (.429), hits (12), triples (2), walks (8) and on-base percentage (.556), and is also a perfect 6-of-6 in stolen bases. Senior pitcher Breana Burke leads the pitching staff in ERA (0.65), complete games (2), shutouts (1) and opponents' batting average (.135).

Chattanooga (3-4) hosted the Chattanooga Challenge last weekend, going 3-2 in the tournament. The Mocs began the weekend with a win over Marshall before falling to Western Kentucky and Bowling Green. Chattanooga wrapped up the tournament with a win over Indiana State and a loss against Tennessee Tech. Senior outfielder Aly Walker leads the offense among regular starters in batting average (.458), at-bats (24), hits (11) and doubles (2). Senior pitcher Celie Hudson leads the staff in ERA (2.23), wins (3), appearances (4), games started (3), complete games (3), innings pitched (22.0) and strikeouts (23).

Saint Francis (3-5) competed in the Campbell Invitational last weekend, going an even 2-2. The Red Flashes began the tournament with a win over Howard, then fell to Campbell and Bucknell before closing the weekend with a second win against Howard. Sophomore infielder/catcher Allyn Bezjak leads the SFU offense in batting average (.318), hits (7), doubles (1), triples (2), home runs (1), runs-batted in (9), total bases (15) and slugging percentage (.682). Freshman pitcher Grace Vesco has seen the most time in the circle so far, pitching 20 innings, and also leads the pitching staff in wins (2), appearances (5), games started (4), complete games (2), strikeouts (15) and opponents' batting average (.269).

SIUE (4-0) opened the season last weekend with wins against Southern (two wins), Alcorn State and Jackson State. Two of the Cougars' wins ended the game early due to a run rule with one being a shutout. SIUE outscored its opponents 32-5 over the weekend. Redshirt senior infielder Zoe Schafer leads the Cougars' starters in batting average (.500), hits (6), doubles (2), home runs (2), RBI (7), total bases (14), slugging percentage (1.167), walks (2) and on-base percentage (.600). Senior pitcher Emily Ingles leads the pitching staff in ERA (0.54), wins (2), appearances (2), games started (2), complete games (2), shutouts (1), innings pitched (13.0), runs (1), strikeouts (18) and opponents' batting average (.075).

Saint Louis (2-7) went 0-5 at the Bobcat Classic last weekend, losing to Texas State and UTSA twice each and Wichita State once. Junior outfielder Kat Lane leads the Billikens' offense in batting average (.444), runs (7), hits (12), triples (1) and on-base percentage (.516). Sophomore pitcher Chloe Wendling leads the pitching staff in ERA (4.57), wins (1), games started (4), complete games (2) and innings pitched (23.0).