MINNEAPOLIS – On Saturday afternoon the Miami University softball team fell 10-2 to the University of St. Thomas. The Tommies move to 9-7 on the season. Against the University of Minnesota, the RedHawks fell 9-6. The Gophers move to 8-9 on the season. The RedHawks drop to 5-13.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1):
- In the bottom of the first, Jenna Golembiewski hit a RBI single to center field, allowing Kaylee Oh to score and take a 1-0 lead for the RedHawks.
- Chloe Parks followed that up with a sacrifice groundout that put Shelby Kunkel across the plate and doubled the lead to 2-0.
- A solo home run and a two-run home run from the Tommies in the top of the third gave them the 3-2 lead.
- Another run scored for the Tommies in the top of the fourth on a RBI double, pushing their lead to 4-2.
- Still in the fourth, a walk with the bases loaded, a sac fly, and a successful attempt at stealing home, upped the Tommies lead to 7-2.
- In the top of the sixth the Tommies hit a three-run homer to extend their lead to 10-2.
- The Tommies held this lead through the end of the sixth to take the game 10-2.
NOTES:
- Holly Merritt went 2-for-3 at the plate.
- Golembiewski and Parks each had RBI.
- Léa Chevrier went 2.2 innings on the bump, allowing just two hits and striking out two.
- Shelbie Krieger went 3.1 innings in the circle, also striking out two.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2):
- In the top of the first, a solo homer from Kunkel gave the RedHawks a 1-0 lead.
- The second, third, and fourth innings were quiet.
- A pair of solo homers from the Gophers in the bottom of the fifth gave them a 2-1 lead.
- Still in the fifth, the Gophers extended their lead to 5-1 with a three-run home run.
- Kunkel hit her second solo homer of the game in the top of the sixth to cut the deficit to 5-2.
- Later in the sixth, Merritt hit a two-RBI double that scored Sydney Gilbert and Golembiewski to further cut the margin to 5-4.
- An error followed, allowing Merritt to score and tie the game 5-5.
- In the top of the seventh, Parks hit an infield single that let Kunkel cross the plate and take the 6-5 lead.
- However, the Gophers took the win in the bottom of the seventh with a grand slam to make it a 9-6 final.
NOTES:
- Kunkel went 3-for-4 at the plate.
- Merritt and Kunkel each had two RBI.
- Madilyn Reeves pitched the complete game, allowing just seven hits and striking out seven.
- The RedHawks had their first error-less game since Feb. 8.
UP NEXT: Next week, the RedHawks face the University of Dayton on March 5 in Dayton, Ohio at 3 p.m.