MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The Miami University softball team (8-6) split its games on Saturday, falling to Middle Tennessee by a 7-2 margin before beating South Alabama 3-2.

Miami 2, Middle Tennessee 7

Morgan Lott moved up to tie for fourth in program history with nine career triples as she led off the first inning with her first triple of the season.

Courtney Vierstra started the game in the circle and went four innings, striking out seven batters and giving up three runs on three hits. Brianna Pratt relieved Vierstra in the circle to start the fifth inning and finished the game.

The game remained scoreless until the top of the third inning when Middle Tennessee took a 3-0 lead. MTSU hit two singles before a two-out home run cleared the bases. Vierstra ended the inning with a strikeout of the next batter.

Miami got onto the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jada Dotson reached base on an error. Hannah Obrey hit a two-out home run to cut Middle Tennessee's lead to 3-2 after four innings.

The score remained 3-2 until the top of the seventh when Middle Tennessee increased its lead with four runs. MTSU put together a string of two singles, a pair of fielder's choices and a home run as it held a 7-2 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.

Haeley Tran singled in the bottom of the seventh inning but a double play ended the game.

Lott and Obrey led the Miami offense. Lott went 2-of-3 with a triple while Obrey hit the two-run home run.

Miami 3, South Alabama 2

Taylor Rathe got the start in the circle and pitched five full innings. Rathe gave up no earned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two batters. Vierstra entered the game to start the sixth to earn the save. Vierstra struck out four and gave up no runs or hits, seeing only six batters in two innings.

The game was scoreless entering the fourth inning when South Alabama scored first. USA began with a pair of singles and scored a run on an error that should've ended the inning. South Alabama tallied a second unearned run on a third single to take a 2-0 lead.

Allie Cummins responded with a lead-off home run in the bottom of the fourth to cut South Alabama's lead in half. A walk from Maclai Branson and a single from Riley Coyne left runners on first and second to end the inning.

Miami took a 3-2 lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Lott led off with a double and advanced to third on an error that saw Obrey safe at first. Cummins was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Holly Blaska drove in two runs with a single to give the Red and White a lead it would not surrender.

The Miami defense forced South Alabama down in order in both the sixth and seventh inning to preserve the lead and earn the 3-2 win.

Blaska led the RedHawks' offense, going 2-of-3 with two RBIs. Lott had a multi-hit game as well, going 2-of-4, while Cummins hit the home run and reached base a second time on a walk.

UP AHEAD

The RedHawks wrap up action in Madeira Beach on Sunday with a single game against Florida Gulf Coast. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.