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MAC and NCAA -- Tale of two tourneys for MU  By MIKE SMITH
Soon after its final out in the NCAA tournament, Miami softball effectively began its transition to 2025. With a big "senior" class leaving, reshaping the roster will be a priority if MU wants to remain a MAC powerhouse -- let alone address the additional goal of succeeding at the NCAA tournament level. As with any other sport, who knows what will happen with the portal, and who knows what else will happen in the NCAA sporting world??? The 2024 team put itself in the record books, and such assaults on history are relatively rare. However, good programs can make a habit of having successful seasons. Such has largely been the case under Head Coach Karin Kumar. The RedHawks have won five straight regular season championships and recently captured their third consecutive Mid-American Conference Softball Tourney title. The latter, accomplished in a three-game sweep, raised MU's record to 48-7 and sent Miami forward to another NCAA Regional Softball Tourney appearance. After going 2-2 in NCAA play . . . Miami beats Dayton before falling to Virginia RedHawks exit tourney; finish campaign with 49 wins  Addy Jarvis got the win over Dayton and kept MU in the nightcap against UVA until tiring. (MVSmith/MRO file photo) MRO STAFF
KNOXVILLE, TN -- For those who argue that good pitching beats good hitting, maybe they should bookmark Eden Bigham's performance against the No. 24 Miami RedHawks Friday and Saturday. Bigham (16-7) tossed two shutouts against MU, backing up a two-hit 7-0 Cavalier win Friday with a one-hit 6-0 UVA victory Saturday. The latter eliminated Miami, ending a record-breaking season with the RedHawks finishing 49-9. Virgina, which was run-ruled (without Bigham) by regional host Tennessee 12-0 earlier Saturday, will face the Lady Volunteers again Sunday, but it would have to beat UT twice to move on to super-regional play. Miami did manage to pick up one win on the weekend, pulling out a 4-0 win over Dayton. However, the RedHawks still managed just four hits -- including their only home run of the weekend -- against UD. RedHawk starter Addy Jarvis (19-2) scattered eight hits while preserving the shutout. It was enough to give Miami another shot at Virginia, but Bigham once again used a vexing array of pitches and locations to thwart RedHawk hitters. The Cavaliers ace struck out a total of 17 batters and walked four in 14 innings. Miami managed just two baserunners in each matchup. Kate Kobayashi and Hadley Parisien singled against UVA Friday. Allie Cummins' sixth inning single to left was Miami's only hit Saturday. CLICK READ MORE FOR DETAILS . . . Neighboring programs face off in crucial battle  By MIKE SMITH
The Miami RedHawks softball team isn't a unit that panics. Saturday may tell if it is a unit that can regroup. Virginia threw a big bucket of cold water on the RedHawks Friday, shutting out Miami for the first time this year. That sent MU into a Saturday elimination game against Dayton, who was also shutout. Overall NCAA No. 3 seed Tennessee topped the Flyers 3-0 in Friday's second game at Sherri Park Lee Stadium. It was Dayton's first appearance in the NCAA Softball Tournament. With their opening loss, the A-10 champions bring a 33-20 record to Saturday's crucial (3:30 p.m. ET) contest between neighboring Ohio programs. Here are some notes on Dayton's Friday experience . . . Miami softball shut out in NCAA opener MU to face Dayton in Saturday elimination game  By MIKE SMITH
KNOXVILLE, TN -- Sophomore Eden Bigham tamed RedHawk hitters and the Virginia Cavaliers hit two home runs on the way to a 7-0 shutout win over No. 24 Miami Friday afternoon in NCAA Knoxville Regional action at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. With its victory, Virginia (33-18) moves on to face Tennessee (1 p.m. ET), which defeated Dayton 3-0 Friday. Miami gets UD for an elimination matchup (3:30 p.m. ET). The survivor would play again Saturday at 8 p.m. ET. Although MU led NCAA stats in runs per game (9.15), Bigham (15-7) not only authored Miami's first shutout loss of the year, she surrendered just two hits -- only one of which left the infield. She demonstrated good command and kept the RedHawks off balance with an array of pitches. Her rise ball was particularly effective, helping her strike out 10 MU hitters while walking just three. Only one RedHawk reached second base on the day. Miami freshman pitcher Madilyn Reeves (22-4), meanwhile, struggled with command early. She eventually walked seven and struck out just one Cavaliers batter. Leadoff hitter Jade Hylton led . . . Spaid drafted; MU among talented group in Knoxville  By MIKE SMITH
-- Miami infielder Karli Spaid has already etched her name into the record books (Miami, MAC, NCAA), but she added to her accomplishments Tuesday when she was drafted No. 7 (coincidentally her uniform number) in the Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball league. Clemson pitcher Valerie Cagle was the No. 1 pick. followed by Maya Brady (OF/UCLA), Tiare Jennings (INF/OKLAHOMA), Jayda Coleman (OF/OKLAHOMA) Payton Gottsshall (P/TENNESSEE) and Skylar Wallace (INF/FLORIDA). Fifteen players were drafted and invited to participate in the fifth season of AU Pro Softball Spaid ranks second in NCAA history with 103 career home runs. Thirty-six of those have come this year. That is just one behind Laura Espinoza's 37 in 1995. Spaid's next chance for another homer comes Friday when Miami faces Virginia in the Tennessee Regional at Knoxville. Dayton and host Tennessee are also in the group, so if MU faces Tennessee, Spaid could face another pro draftee in Gottshall. -- Miami was RANKED No. 21, while Tennessee was No. 2 in the May 5 Softball America Top 25. -- They know their softball in Oklahoma, and a writer for the Oklahoman feels Miami could be a candidate to pull off one of the NCAA tournament's upsets. Click HERE for story. ABOUT TENNESSEE -- Tennessee figures as the biggest hurdle for MU this weekend. Their overall No. 3 NCAA seeding is the highest in program history, although this is their second straight year as a top-eight seed. The Lady Vols (40-10 overall) prevailed as Miami to open against Cavaliers in Knoxville No. 3 Seed Tennessee and Dayton also in regional  The 2024 RedHawks have earned a lot of hardware so far, but would like to get more. By MIKE SMITH
Fresh off their Mid-American Conference Softball Tournament title, the RedHawks spent part of their early Sunday evening together as they watched the NCAA Tournament selection show. As MAC tournament winner, the No. 24 RedHawks earned an automatic spot in the NCAA event. So Sunday was about finding out some important details. Topping the list were three questions: Where would they be playing? Who would they play next, and what other programs are in their regional There are 16 regionals. However, MU players and fans didn't have to wait long. The show started with No. 1 Seed Texas' regional, followed by No. 2 Oklahoma. The No. 3 seed went to Tennessee, which will host Dayton, Miami and Virginia in Knoxville. That action starts . . . Jarvis throws one-hit gem as MU claims tourney crown Blaska, Bartholomew hit homers; combine for 5 RBIs  By MIKE SMITH
AKRON, OH -- No. 6 seed Ball State was threatening to break open a scoreless MAC Championship Tournament game in the third inning Saturday when two things intervened. First, Miami starter Addy Jarvis (18-1) ended the threat by striking out Cardinal outfielder Maddie Weaver. Second, bad weather forced a weather delay. When play resumed, the RedHawks offense exploded for four runs. After adding three more in the fourth, MU made its 2024 tourney title official with a solo homer in the seventh to seal an 8-0 run-rule victory at Firestone Stadium. With the verdict, Miami won its 12th straight game, raised its season record to 48-7 and secured a spot in the upcoming NCAA tournament. Ball State slipped to 29-29. Addy Jarvis picked up the . . . RedHawks edge Ohio; head to championship game  By MRO STAFF
AKRON, OH - Madilyn Reeves overcame some early control issues and the RedHawks offense rallied early in a 3-1 Miami victory over No. 2 seed Ohio Friday afternoon at Firestone Stadium. With the win, top-seeded Miami (47-7) moves into Saturday's championship game. Its opponent would need to beat MU twice to claim the MAC Tourney title. The RedHawks had six hits on the day, with four coming in a three-run first inning. Meanwhile, Ohio (31-23) totaled three hits against Reeves. None came in the first inning, but that was when the Bobcats scored their only run. Reeves (22-3) walked two of the . . . RedHawks dodge Rocket bullet, rally for walk-off win All four UT runs unearned as MU overcomes four errors  AKRON, OH -- Karli Spaid and Sami Bewick homered and combined for four RBI's to lead a Miami comeback Thursday as the top-seeded RedHawks rallied to defeat No. 4 seed Toledo in MAC Softball Tournament action at Firestone Stadium.
With the win, MU raised its season record to 46-7. The Rockets fell to 26-22. Miami moves on with a Friday, noon matchup against the winner of No. 2 Ohio vs. No. 6 Ball State awaiting. Toledo grabbed an early 2-0 lead in a game that ultimately took nine hours to complete thanks to three rain delays. Two more Rocket runs in the top of the fourth gave UT a 4-0 lead before Miami began its comeback. All four Toledo runs were unearned as the Rockets took advantage of four MU errors. Hadley Parisien's sacrifice foul out to left field plated MU's first run in the bottom of the fourth. Miami then pulled within one (4-3) when Bewick belted a two-run homer to left in the fifth inning. After a scoreless sixth and . . . RedHawks open MAC Tourney title quest against Toledo  The top-seeded Miami RedHawks begin their quest for another MAC Softball Tournament championship Thursday when they face No. 4 seed Toledo at Firestone Stadium.
Toledo (26-21 overall) stroked 11 hits while holding CMU to four hits in a 6-3 Rockets victory in first round action Wednesday. The Chippewas were the only MAC team to defeat Miami this season. |
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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