MADISON, Ala. – On Sunday afternoon the Miami University softball team fell 11-7 to No. 16 Mississippi State University. The Bulldogs move to 13-2 on the season. The RedHawks then defeated East Tennessee State University 5-3. The Buccaneers drop to 3-9 on the season. The RedHawks move to 4-10.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1):
- A double steal in the top of the first where Chloe Parks stole second and Shelby Kunkel took home put the RedHawks ahead 1-0.
- Jenna Golembiewski then hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Parks to score, doubling Miami's lead 2-0.
- In the bottom of the first, an error allowed a runner to score for the Bulldogs, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
- A RBI single from Kari Krueger in the top of second scored Ella Carter, pushing the RedHawks' lead to 3-1.
- Later that same inning, Parks hit a two-RBI single to left field where Krueger and Erin Pinter scored. Holly Merritt followed that up with a sac fly, allowing Kunkel to cross home and up the Red and White's lead to 6-1.
- In the bottom of the second, the Bulldogs scored on a two-RBI single, cutting the lead in half 6-3.
- Still in the second, a sac fly and a three-run home run scored four for the Bulldogs, giving them the 7-6 lead.
- The Bulldogs extended their lead to 8-6 with a sac fly in that same inning.
- In the top of the third, Krueger hit a RBI single down the right field line that scored Sydney Gilbert and cut the margin to 8-7.
- The Bulldogs extended their lead to 10-7 with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third.
- In the bottom of the sixth, a RBI single further extended the Bulldog's lead to 11-7, which was enough for the Bulldogs to take the win.
NOTES:
- Parks went 2-for-4 at the plate, Krueger went 2-for-3.
- Kruger and Parks each had two RBI.
- Madie Patton made her first game start of her career.
- Léa Chevrier went two innings in the circle, striking out one.
- Shelbie Krieger pitched a partial inning on the bump.
- Madilyn Reeves went 3.1 innings on the rubber, striking out two and allowing just two hits.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2):
- Two runs scored for the Buccaneers in the top of the first on a RBI single, putting them in front 2-0.
- In the bottom of the third the RedHawks tied it up 2-2 with a RBI triple from Golembiewski that scored Parks and a sac groundout from Merritt that scored Golembiewski.
- Still in the third, Krueger hit a RBI single up the middle that scored McKenna Campbell and gave the RedHawks a 3-2 lead.
- In the top of the fourth, the Buccaneers scored on an error, tying the game 3-3.
- Patton hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth to put the RedHawks ahead 4-3.
- In the bottom of the fifth, Golembiewski hit a solo homer of her own to increase the lead to 5-3, which the RedHawks held through the end of the game.
NOTES:
- Golembiewski went 2-for-2 at the plate with a triple and home run. This homer marked the 50th of her career.
- Parks went 2-for-4 and Patton went 2-for-3 at the plate.
- Patton hit her first career home run.
- Reeves pitched the complete game and allowed just nine hits. She struck out eight.
- Three different RedHawks hit extra-base hits.
- Nathalie Hagle recorded her first career hit.
UP NEXT: The RedHawks head to Minneapolis, Minn. next weekend to compete in the Gopher Classic. Their first game is Friday, Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. against the University of St. Thomas.