OXFORD, Ohio – Thanks to some hard-hitting from the RedHawks, Miami secured the win in their first game of the Mid-American Conference Tournament on Thursday evening. They took down Ball State University 8-4.
Brianna Pratt battled through in the circle to complete the game and earn her 28th win of the season. This brings Miami to 35-18 on the season, while Ball State drops to 27-25.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In the top of the third, the Cardinals struck first when a dead ball with the bases loaded sent one home to make it a 1-0 game.
- In that same inning, Ball State tripled its lead to 3-0 when another two runs scored on a pair of RBI singles.
- Still in the top of the third, another walk caused a fourth runner to score, making it 4-0.
- In the bottom of the third, the RedHawks fought back with the help of Karli Spaid's three-run home run over deep center to cut the deficit to 4-3.
- Jenna Golembiewski scored in the bottom of the fourth on a throwing error to tie the game up 4-4.
- In the bottom of the fifth, Maddi Banks took the lead for the RedHawks 5-4 when she scored on a throwing error following Allie Cummins' double.
- In that same inning, Spaid hit an RBI single to score Cummins and up the lead to 6-4.
- To follow that up, Riley Coyne hit a two-run single to score Blaska and Spaid and push the lead to 8-4, which would ultimately be the final score.
NOTES:
- Spaid went 2-for-3 at the plate and had 4 RBI.
- Cummins and Banks each went 1-for-2 at the plate.
- Pratt allowed only eight hits and had three strikeouts.
UP NEXT: The RedHawks will take the field again in Oxford, Ohio Friday 40 minutes after the conclusion of game three to face Ohio University in game four of the MAC Championship Tournament.
