AKRON, Ohio – On Thursday afternoon, No. 1 Miami University took down No. 4 Ball State University 6-3 in Game 4 of the Mid-American Conference Championship Tournament. The RedHawks are now 32-23 (20-7 MAC) on the season. Ball State falls to 32-17 (17-9 MAC).
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Kaylee Oh got it started in the bottom of the first with a hard-hit triple down the third base line, pushing Shelby Kunkel across home and claiming a 1-0 lead for the RedHawks.
- In that same inning, Mckenna Campbell shot a single to left center, scoring Oh and doubling the lead 2-0.
- Still in the first, Holly Merritt hit a double to the center field wall, bringing home Campbell and Jenna Golembiewski, doubling the lead again 4-0.
- Ball State got a run across in the top of the second on a RBI single, cutting the deficit to 4-1.
- In the top of the fourth, to keep the game 4-1, Golembiewski made a leaping catch in center field to rob a home run from the Cardinals.
- The Cardinals cut the lead in half 4-2 in the top of the fifth with a sacrifice fly.
- Golembiewski drove in a run in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI single up the middle. Chloe Parks scored to make it a 5-2 game.
- Kunkel hit a solo homer over right-center in the bottom of the sixth to up the RedHawks' lead to 6-2.
- In the top of the seventh, Ball State made it a 6-3 game on a solo home run, but could not come back from the deficit, handing the 'Hawks the 6-3 win.
NOTES:
- Oh went 3-for-4 at the plate. Kunkel went 2-for-3, and Golembiewski went 2-for-2.
- The RedHawks had five extra-base hits in the game.
- Madilyn Reeves pitched five innings in the circle, securing the win. She allowed just one earned run and struck out two. She did not allow a single extra-base hit.
- Six different RedHawks had hits in the game.
- Léa Chevrier pitched the final two innings on the bump. She allowed just one run and two hits and struck out two.
UP NEXT: With the win today, the RedHawks advance to play again tomorrow, May 9 in Game 7. The RedHawks will face the winner of Game 5 in Akron, Ohio at Firestone Stadium.