MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The Miami University softball team (9-6) wrapped up tournament play at THE Spring Games on Sunday with a 3-2 win against Florida Gulf Coast.
Miami 3, FGCU 2
All three Miami pitchers saw time in the circle as
Taylor Rathe got the start. Rathe went two innings, giving up one run on four hits.
Brianna Pratt entered the game to start the third inning and pitched four innings. Pratt gave up one run on two hits in the sixth inning after three-straight innings of retiring FGCU in order.
Courtney Vierstra came in as relief for the seventh inning, throwing two strikeouts and allowing no hits. Vierstra passed 100 strikeouts this season in her appearance.
Florida Gulf Coast took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on two singles and a hit by pitch but Miami responded immediately to tie the game at one in the bottom of the first.
Morgan Lott led off with a single and advanced to second on a bunt by
Holly Blaska that saw her safe at first on a fielding error.
Allie Cummins laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third.
Jada Dotson scored Lott from third on an infield ball to tie the game.
The score was tied at one until the bottom of the fourth inning.
Hannah Obrey singled and
Maclai Branson was walked as the RedHawks had runners on first and second with two outs.
Julia Kennedy entered the game to pinch hit and brought Obrey home with a single. Kennedy advanced to second on the throw while Branson went to third. They would be stranded to end the inning but Miami had taken a 2-1 lead.
The RedHawks held the 2-1 lead until FGCU was able to tie it up at two in the top of the sixth. FGCU hit a leadoff single, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. The lead-off batter scored before two-straight defensive plays by Miami ended the inning.
Miami won the game in the bottom of the seventh after holding FGCU in the top half of the inning.
Kara Leckinger pinch hit, getting a one-out single for the RedHawks' first base runner of the inning. Lott hit her third single of the game to advance Leckinger to second. After a FGCU pitching change, Blaska drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Leckinger scored the game-winning run on a fielding error that saw Cummins safe at first.
Lott led the offense with her third multi-hit game of the weekend, going 3-of-4.
UP AHEAD
Miami plays in Oxford for the first time this season. The RedHawks host Eastern Illinois and Green Bay for a round-robin series on Saturday and Sunday, sponsored by Best Western. Miami's home opener is on Saturday against Eastern Illinois. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
