TEMPE, Ariz. – On Friday night the Miami University softball team opened up their 2025 season at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. In game one the RedHawks fell to the University of Maryland 6-4. UMD moves to 2-1 on the season. In game two, though they got out to a dominant start, the RedHawks eventually fell 15-7 to Arizona State University. The Sun Devils move to 2-0 and the RedHawks fall to 0-2.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1):
- In the bottom of the second, Ella Carter scored on a wild pitch to grant the RedHawks a 1-0 lead.
- On an error in the top of the third, two runs crossed for the Terrapins, giving them their first lead of the game 2-1.
- Still in the third, a RBI single scored another for UMD, pushing their lead to 3-1.
- A double steal by Jenna Golembiewski taking second and Kari Krueger taking home, made it a 3-2 score in the bottom of the third.
- In the bottom of the fifth, Mckenna Campbell hit a RBI single to center field to score Golembiewski and Shelby Kunkel, taking back the lead for the RedHawks 4-3.
- A pair of RBI singles from the Terrapins in the sixth scored three and made it a 6-4 game. UMD held this lead to take the game 6-4.
NOTES (GAME 1):
- Holly Merritt, Kaylee Oh, Krueger, and Carter made their first collegiate starts. For Merritt, Carter, and Oh it was their first appearances as RedHawks.
- Danitza Hernandez made her first start as a RedHawk.
- Léa Chevrier made her first appearance as a RedHawk.
- Campbell recorded two RBI in the game.
- Four different RedHawks scored runs.
- Reeves went 6.1 innings in the circle, allowing just two extra base hits.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2):
- In the top of the second, Merritt got her first collegiate hit with a solo home run to grab an early 1-0 lead for the RedHawks.
- Still in the second, Kunkel shot a two RBI single up the middle to score Oh and Krueger and extend the RedHawks' lead to 3-0.
- Campbell followed that up with a RBI groundout that scored Golembiewski and widened the difference to 4-0.
- Extending the inning further, Kunkel scored on a wild pitch to up the lead to 5-0.
- The Sun Devils got on the board 5-1 in the bottom of the second on a solo home run over right field.
- In the bottom of the third, a three-run homer narrowed the margin for the Sun Devils to 5-4.
- Campbell lined a RBI single up the middle in the top of the fourth to score Sydney Gilbert and push the lead to 6-4.
- A RBI single from the Sun Devils in the bottom of the fourth scored another run and made it a 6-5 game.
- Krueger hit her first collegiate home run in the top of the fifth to increase the RedHawk lead to 7-5.
- A pair of errors in the bottom of the fifth tied the game up 7-7.
- Still in the fifth, a bases-loaded walk paired with an error, followed up by a three run home run gave the Sun Devils a 12-7 lead.
- ASU made it 15-7, still in the bottom of the fifth, with a RBI single and a two RBI double to end the game.
NOTES (GAME 2):
- Chevrier made her first start as a RedHawk. She went 4.2 innings with three strikeouts.
- Gilbert and Krieger made their first collegiate appearances.
- Chloe Parks went 2-for-3 at the plate.
- Kunkel and Campbell each had two RBI.
UP NEXT: The RedHawks continue their stay in Tempe, Ariz. tomorrow when they take on the University of Minnesota at 5:45 p.m. and then again face the Sun Devils of Arizona State at 8 p.m.