MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The Miami University softball team (7-5) won both of its games on Friday by one run on the first day of THE Spring Games. The RedHawks beat Iowa by a 2-1 margin before earning the 4-3 victory against Florida Atlantic.

Miami 2, Iowa 1

Courtney Vierstra pitched the complete game in the circle, giving up one run on five hits. She reached 10 strikeouts for the fourth time this season with an even 10.

The game was scoreless until the third inning, with both teams recording hits before the third. Haeley Tran led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on a pair of ground balls. Maclai Branson hit a two-out infield single to score Tran and give Miami a 1-0 lead.

The RedHawks added a run in the top of the fourth to increase the lead to 2-0. Allie Cummins led off with a single and Mackenzie Moore replaced Cummins as a pinch runner. Moore advanced to third on two ground balls before scoring on a single from Kara Leckinger.

The score remained 2-0 until the bottom of the sixth inning when Iowa got onto the scoreboard. The Hawkeyes loaded the bases on a single and two walks with nobody out. The Miami defense responded with back-to-back force-outs at home plate to keep Iowa off the board but a walk with the bases loaded allowed the Hawkeyes to score their lone run of the game.

Iowa threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning with a single and a walk with two outs before Vierstra ended the game with a strikeout.

Obrey and Tran led the Miami offense, each going 2-of-3 at the plate, though six different RedHawks recorded a hit. Branson and Leckinger each recorded an RBI.

Miami 4, Florida Atlantic 3

Brianna Pratt gave up only one run in six innings of work, striking out five and walking none. Vierstra entered the game to begin the seventh inning and close out the victory.

Florida Atlantic scored first, putting one run across in the top of the third inning. A single and a fielding error saw two FAU players on the bases with one out. A sacrifice fly brought the run in.

Miami responded with two runs in the bottom of the third, taking a lead it would not relinquish. The RedHawks loaded the bases with three walks but a force-out at home initially kept Miami from scoring. Cummins hit a two RBI double to be the difference.

The score would remain 2-1 until the bottom of the sixth inning when Miami added two insurance runs to its total. Riley Coyne was hit by a pitch to begin the inning as the RedHawks loaded the bases with a pair of singles to follow. Jada Dotson was safe on a fielder's choice play that saw Coyne and Adriana Barlow score. Miami held a 4-1 lead heading into the final inning.

FAU scored twice on a two-out RBI double but Vierstra sealed the victory with a strikeout.

Cummins and Dotson led the RedHawks offense with two RBIs each. Four different Miami players recorded a hit.

UP AHEAD

The RedHawks continue play in THE Spring Games on Saturday. Miami begins the day against Middle Tennessee at 11 a.m. before playing South Alabama at 1:30 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on FloSoftball.