LEXINGTON, Ky.—Both teams did all of their scoring in the fourth inning as the Miami University softball team (46-9) came up just short in its opening game at the NCAA Tournament Lexington Regional, falling 3-2 to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (32-13) on Friday afternoon at John Cropp Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• It was a pitchers' duel through three scoreless innings. Senior Courtney Vierstra faced just 10 batters through the first three innings, handing out two strikeouts.
• Miami got on the board first when senior Mackenzie Moore hit a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed junior Allie Cummins to cross home. Junior Adriana Barlow then belted a single to center field that plated freshman Holly Blaska to hand Miami a 2-0 lead. The Fighting Irish came back in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-2 edge off a three-run home run by Leea Hanks.
• The RedHawks notched two more hits over their final three innings at the plate with Moore and freshman Karlee Juarez each notching singles, but it was not enough. Vierstra remained strong in the circle, giving up no hits to the Fighting Irish over the remaining innings.
• Moore was the lone RedHawk with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-2 with an RBI and a sacrifice fly. Vierstra gave up three runs off four hits and struck out four.

 
UP NEXT:
Miami will face Northwestern at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 22. The Wildcats dropped a 3-2 decision to Kentucky in Friday's first game at the Lexington Regional. The winner will move on to play the loser of Saturday's noon game between Kentucky and Notre Dame at 5 p.m.