MIAMI SOFTBALL

MU finishes sweep with pair of one-run victories

Re-play proves pivotal in Game Two victory

Jenna Golembiewski rounds second after hitting a Game Two home run. (MVSmith/MRO)

By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- A replay correction and Holly Merritt's eighth inning RBI hit to right were both critical pieces in a 3-2 Miami win over Northern Illinois (7-17, 2-4 MAC) Saturday in Game Two of a double-header. The RedHawks (16-15) also prevailed 7-6 in Game One, with Sunday's wins finishing a sweep that leaves MU 6-0 in Mid-American Conference play through two weeks of MAC action.  Miami also edged NIU (5-3) Friday night.

"It's extremely difficult . . . to sweep," Miami Head Coach Mandy Gardner-Colegate said. "To sweep two weekends back-to-back is proof of (our team's) resiliency."

Game 2 was a particularly hard test as . . . 

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. . . it quickly settled into a pitcher's duel. Miami ace Madilyn Reeves (10-6) went all eight innings, scattering nine hits, striking out four and walking two while allowing two runs. Danielle Stewart (2.0 innings) and Madison Carlson (1-1) (5.1 innings) combined to allow 3 runs and 11 hits. They fanned four and did not walk a batter.

Holly Merritt (center) celebrates with teammates after she drove in the winning run of a 3-2 Miami victory over Northern Illinois. (MVSmith/MRO)

The RedHawks put up single runs in each of the first two frames but would not score again until the eighth inning. Northern Illinois, meanwhile, tallied one run in the fourth before putting together a major seventh inning rally. A leadoff single to left was followed by a bunt single. Both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt. 

Danielle Stewart's single to center brought in the tying run, while the go-ahead run moved to third with one out. A squeeze bunt by Rylie Hartman -- barely going three feet in front of home -- followed. While RedHawk catcher McKenna Campbell quickly pounced on it, she was unable to tag the sliding runner in time. 

For a few moments, it seemed NIU had seized the lead. It also had a runner on first on with one out. All that changed, however, in the next several minutes. Colegate-Garner immediately went to the umpires for a review, challenging that the runner from third left early. 

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Ella Carter puts down a tag as Madison Mathews reaches third base. (MVSmith/MRO)

Madilyn Reeves threw a strong second game and recorded two wins on the weekend. (MVSmith/MRO)

In addition to her own suspicions, Gardner-Colegate got strong feedback from her team. 

"They (the Huskies) had been known to leave early in the past, (although) they haven't as much this year. But I had our dugout constantly watching . . . all the runners. ... They were all (saying) she left early."

After reviewing video of the play, umpires agreed -- the runner left early. She was called out and the batter returned to the plate with two outs. When Hartman fouled out to third, the teams remained locked in a 2-2 tie. "Thank goodness for instant replay," Gardner-Colegate said. 

Miami failed to score in the bottom of the seventh, and the game moved into extra innings. Reeves made quick work of the Huskies in the top half, retiring them in order. 

"Her pitch count was pretty low today," Gardner-Colegate said. "She's feeling healthy and strong. I actually think that she got better as the game went on." 

Chloe Parks singled to open Miami's next turn at the plate. Ella Carter then moved her up with a sacrifice bunt. 

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Ella Carter puts down a bunt to move up what became the winning run. (MVSmith/MRO)

"We practice (bunting) every day, because you just never know (when you might need it) late in game," Gardner-Colegate said. 

With Parks in scoring position, Holly Merritt responded with her fifth hit in eight plate appearances on the day. The liner to right easily scored Parks.

"I've been hitting good (and) I was really feeling it today," Merritt said. "I was just kind of waiting on (my) pitch."

As a team, the RedHawks totaled 11 hits in Game Two. They left seven on base. 

"We were struggling . . . to put our hits together. We got our hits, but they just weren't timely," Merritt said. "Props to Maddy Reeves . . . for keeping us in that game." 

Merritt and Parks stroked three hits apiece to lead Miami's offense. Jenna Golembiewski homered in the first, while Madie Patton's second inning brought in MU's second run.

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Le'a Chevrier threw a complete game while picking up her sixth win of the season. (MVSmith/MRO)

GAME ONE - MIAMI 7, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 6
• Madie Patton led the MU offense, going 3 for 3 at the plate with one home run and a double. 
Golembiewsk and Merritt recorded two hits apiece.
• Le'a Chevrier (6-5) went the distance for Miami, allowing 13 hits and three walks while striking out seven. Three of the Huskies six runs came in the seventh. 
"She's been really good for us for about five innings, so I was really proud of her to get through seven," Gardner-Colegate said. "I was really, really pleased with her. Pretty much all of the hits she gave up were singles and little dinky things. She was spinning it good. They were just hitting it where we weren't." 
• Asked how it feels to get a second weekend sweep," Chevrier said, "It feels good. We have a good group of girls, and I think we're going to do great things this season in conference." 
• Lily Cassell (2-7) took the loss for NIU, allowing eight hits and six runs across three innings. Taylor Macklin finished, surrendering just one run. 
• Northern Illinois tied the contest with two runs on four hits in the third. However, three runners were left stranded. 

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• Miami moved back in front with four runs in the bottom half. Kunkel and Golembiewski drove in the first two. Another two runs followed on fly outs. Miami led 6-2. 
• Both teams added single tallies in the fourth. The scored remained 7-3 until the seventh. 
• Northern Illinois sent eight batters to the plate. Two of the first three at-bats resulted in outs. However, a single, walk and two more singles brought in three runs. The Huskies trailed by one with two runners on base. Chevrier, however, got the final out on a strikeout.