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Miami RedHawks softball picture gallery This year's Miami RedHawks softball squad left its mark in the record books, not only capturing Mid-American Conference regular and tournament titles, but also reaching the NCAA tournament regional finals during the 2023 journey.
MRO-plus was on hand for many of the games, and part of our coverage led to shooting hundreds of pictures. We are sharing . . . Northwestern rallies to eliminate RedHawks Platt, Blaska anchor Miami challenge  Karlie Spaid's first inning home run gave Miami an early lead. (MU Athletics) By MIKE SMITH
EVANSTON, ILL -- Northwestern worked its way out of a bases loaded/no outs jam in the seventh inning to edge Miami 5-4 in regional softball action Sunday at Drysdale Field. With the victory, No. 12 Northwestern (41-11) punched its ticket to super-regional action later this week in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Miami, appearing in its first regional final, finished the campaign with a 39-20 record. The RedHawks led through much of the game, but surrendered single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to fall behind 5-4. Nontheless, MU's chances for victory . . . RedHawks sweep the day; head to regional finals  Holly Blaska (MVSmith/file) By MIKE SMITH
EVANSTON, ILL -- Holly Blaska keyed a rejuvenated offense, and Brianna Pratt tossed back-to-back shutouts Saturday as the Miami RedHawks (39-19) fought their way into Sunday's NCAA Softball regional final with a pair of victories at Sharon J. Drysdale Field. It will be the softball program's first appearance in a regional final. Faced with elimination, MU knocked off Eastern Illinois (34-21) 4-0 in the first game and and then knocked out No. 22 Kentucky (33-22-1) with a 9-0 five-inning, run-rule win in game two. The RedHawks now move on to face host Northwestern at 4 p.m. Sunday. It was Kentucky who . . . RedHawks fall to Kentucky in NCAA opener Early lead not enough as Wildcat offense erupts  By MIKE SMITH
EVANSTON, ILL -- After trailing Miami for four innings, No. 23 Kentucky exploded for nine runs in two innings to post a 9-1 victory over MU Friday in NCAA Regional Tournament action at Drysdale Field. With the loss, Miami (37-19) will meet Eastern Illinois (34-20) Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Panthers fell to tournament No. 12 seed Northwestern 2-0 in Friday's second game at Evanston. Briana Pratt (30-11) took the loss for Miami, going 5.1 innings. She allowed 10 runs (7 earned) on 10 hits. Laurelai DePew relieved Pratt and coaxed one out before surrendering a solo homer that resulted in a run-rule ending. The RedHawks came into Friday . . . Potent MU offense backs up RedHawk pitching  Allie Cummins is among the national leaders in walks but can also drive the ball. (MVSmith) By MIKE SMITH
It's certainly a bit of trivia, but Friday's Miami vs Kentucky game will include two of the nation's top players in one offensive category -- walks. Erin Coffel, a junior Wildcat, leads the country with 1.22 walks per game. Right behind her at No. 2 is Miami senior outfielder Allie Cummins. She averaged .96 walks per game prior to NCAA tournament play. Coffel is also No. 1 in another category -- on base percentage (.626). Cummins, a senior, is tied for 35th with a .500 on base percentage. Both are outstanding marks, especially considering the thousands of players involved in NCAA Division I softball. Like all leadoff hitters, Cummins . . . RedHawks hope to turn tables on Wildcats  By MIKE SMITH
The Miami RedHawks enter this year's NCAA Softball Tournament as an experienced team that has appeared in two straight NCAA tourneys. During that time, MU faced two of the three opponent program's in this year's Evanston Regional. Northwestern, a 12-seed, hosts the group. Kentucky, Eastern Illinois and Miami round out the regional. Two years ago, Notre Dame nipped Miami 3-2 before Northwestern claimed a 7-1 victory the next day. Last year, Kentucky cruised by MU 15-1 in the RedHawks 2022 NCAA opener. Miami fought back to shut out St. Francis 4-0 the following day and then exited after a 5-4 loss to Virginia Tech. Especially with pitching ace Brianna Pratt handling . . . Miami starts NCAA journey against Kentucky  The Miami RedHawks softball team will be relatively close to home as MU opens NCAA Tournament regional play against Kentucky in Evanston, ILL. Also playing in Evanston are No. 12 seed Northwestern and Eastern Illinois. Regional play is scheduled for May 19-21. Two losses result in elimination. The Evanston winner advances to Super Regional competition (May 25-28).  (Courtesy miamiredhawks.com) PRINTABLE BRACKET SELECTION SHOW REACTION (Courtesy MU Athletics) Click Read More for past NCAA tourney results . . . Early lead holds up as MU claims another MAC title Pratt scatters four hits to tame Bobcats  Sophomore Chloe Parks had a single, walk, stolen base, 2 putouts and five assists in the championship game. (MVSmith) By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- Defending champion Miami scored five runs over the first two innings and went on to post 6-2 win over Ohio Saturday, securing another MAC Tournament title and NCAA berth in the process. Brianna Pratt went the distance for Miami (37-18), allowing two runs on four hits while registering her 30th win (against 10 losses) on the season. It was the third straight complete game in three days for the Miami's ace. She and her teammates now await the revelation of MU's next opponent on Sunday's NCAA Softball Tournament selection show (7 p.m. on ESPN2). Ohio, meanwhile, fell to 32-23 with the loss. The No.-2 seeded Bobcats went 1-2 in the MAC tournament, losing twice to No. 1 seed Miami. Freshman Skipp Miller (18-13) . . . RedHawks down Ohio to reach finals Rematch against Bobcats looms  Kate Kabayashi celebrates scoring a first-inning run. (MVSmith) By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- Five different RedHawks had a multi-hit day as Miami knocked off No. 2 seed Ohio 8-4 in Mid-American Conference Softball Tournament action Friday at the Miami Softball Complex. With the victory, MU (36-18) advanced to Saturday's championship game, where they will again face the Bobcats. Ohio (31-22) was forced into a win-or-go home game against Central Michigan in Friday's final game. Those two teams had met in Thursday's opener, with Ohio pulling out a 2-0 victory. The 'Cats prevailed again Friday night -- this time by a 7-2 count. Between them, the RedHawks and Bobcats . . . Miami overcomes slow start to knock off Cardinals  Jenna Golembiewski settles under the final out in Miami's 8-4 win over Ball State Thursday. (MVSmith) By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- After spotting Ball State four runs, the Miami RedHawks erupted for eight runs in their next three turns at the plate, and MU went on to claim an 8-4 victory in Mid-American Conference tournament action Thursday at the Miami Softball Complex. With the win, Miami (35-18) moves on to face Ohio (31-21) in Friday's second game. The Bobcats pushed across two runs in the sixth inning to edge Central Michigan 2-0 in Thursday's MAC Softball Tournament opener. Karli Spaid led the way against BSU with two hits and four RBIs. Three of those came on a third-inning homer that swung momentum back Miami's way after BSU batted around in its four-run third. Three of the runs . . . |
Editor-Publisher Mike SmithMike grew up in Mid-American Conference football and basketball territory and returned there after military service. He has been covering MAC football and men's basketball for much of the last several decades. 
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