MIAMI SOFTBALL

​RedHawks top off first home series with win

Reeves, Carter lead MU past Norse

Madilyn Reeves struck out six and allowed just two hits while shutting out NKU Sunday. (MVSmith/MRO)

OXFORD, OH -- Madilyn Reeves finished the weekend the way she started it -- throwing a shutout. 
Reeves allowed just two early hits and two walks while striking out six as Miami (8-14) run-ruled Northern Kentucky (7-12) 8-0 Sunday at the Miami Softball Field. The sophomore also went the distance Friday as MU knocked off Michigan State 8-0 in five innings. The two victories raised Reeves' record to 5-6 on the year. 

"I think mentally, I've got a lot stronger," she said, noting that mental toughness was part of her personal offseason improvement play. She also worked on "small, minor fixes" in her mechanics. 

Offensively, Ella Carter powered . . . 

---

Kaylee Oh battles the sun while making a catch Sunday in Miami's win over NKU. (MVSmith/MRO)

. . . the RedHawks with six rbi's. Her double and home run in three at-bats were the only extra base hits for MU, but the offense totaled 11 hits on the day. Jenna Golembiewski, Chloe Parks and Holly Merritt also recorded two hits apiece. 

After spending two weeks on the road, with stops in Arizona, Alabama, North Carolina and Michigan, head coach Mandy Gardner-Colegate noted the home-opening series was welcome on and off the field. 

It's "so nice. We can be at home in our beds (and) getting to cook at home. ... We eat out a lot on the road, which can be kind of gross."

On the field, Miami enjoyed "the comfortability of playing on our (own) fields," as well as moving past a gauntlet of tough road opponents. "We played a really tough preseason, and I scheduled that for a reason. ... From a competitive standpoint, I'm really proud of our group  - how they competed through the preseason."

The road trips also helped Gardner-Colegate experiment and evaluate different lineups for a team that had substantial turnover after another record-setting season in 2024. 

"I feel like we're finally starting to jell, especially being home this weekend. Obviously, three victories is big (especially) with three run rules. I feel like we are finally hitting our stride, which is right where we want to be before conference (play)." 

Were it not for a seven-run fifth inning by Michigan State Saturday afternoon, Miami might have pulled off a weekend sweep. The RedHawks lost that game 9-7.

"That's kind of been our curse all season -- having one kind of bad inning in each game. ... We clean that up (and) we're going to be just fine,"  said the coach "I really feel like we're on an upward trajectory, which is really fun." 

After hosting Stonehill College Tuesday, MU opens MAC play with a three-game series at Kent State beginning Friday. 

"We're just excited to get three games on a weekend, get a good nights scout on our opponent and continue to take this weekend into next weekend and the conference," Gardner-Colegate said. 

---

Ella Carter gets congratulations after belting a three-run home run in Sunday's win over NKU. (MVSmith/MRO)

MIAMI 8, NORTHERN KENTUCKY 0
• Miami broke through with three runs after two were out in the second. Carter's homer to right center scored Merritt and Erin Pinter.
• Golembiewski singled with one out and stole second. She scored on a Parks single to center. 
• NIU threatened in the sixth, using a walk and Miami error to put two on with one out. However, a bouncer to short resulted in a force out at third. Bro Kelner's lineout to second ended the threat. 
• Miami scored four runs without recording an out in its half of the sixth. Pinter opened with a walk and Patton was hit by a pitch. Merritt's single to second loaded the bases and Carter followed with a three-run double to left. 
Another walk and single loaded the bases. Pinch hitter Danitza Hernandez blooped a single to center for a game-ending rbi. 
• Brooklyn Ballis took the loss for NKU. 

---