CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Miami University softball team was picked to defend its Mid-American Conference regular season championship according to the conference preseason poll announced on Thursday afternoon. All 11 MAC head coaches picked the RedHawks to capture the regular season crown.
Miami returns seven All-MAC performers from a year ago. In all,
Courtney Vierstra,
Karli Spaid,
Allie Cummins,
Holly Blaska,
Riley Coyne,
Brianna Pratt and
Adriana Barlow are part of a returning group that helped the RedHawks advance to the NCAA Tournament following a 46-10 overall and 36-2 conference record.
Offensively, Miami hit .340 as a team a year ago, pounding out 88 home runs and 499 hits, all school records. The RedHawks averaged 7.6 runs per game, also a new Miami school record. Miami return six different hitters that surpassed a .300 batting average, led by Cummins, who finished the season with a .439 batting average, to go along with 17 home runs and 59 RBI.
Miami's pitching was just as impressive, led by MAC Pitcher of the Year, Vierstra. The senior finished the season with a 1.77 earned-run average, all while compiling a 26-5 record. Pratt, a second-team All-MAC performer from a year ago, was 13-4 and finished the year with a 2.77 ERA.
The RedHawks open the season on Friday, Feb. 18 at Bradley.
2022 MAC Softball Preseason Poll
Miami – 121 (11)
Kent State – 106
Ball State – 95
Bowling Green – 81
Ohio – 70
Toledo – 70
Central Michigan – 60
Northern Illinois – 40
Buffalo – 38
Western Michigan – 24
Akron – 21
MAC Tournament Champion: Miami (7), Kent State (4)
