​MIAMI SOFTBALL

RedHawks tame Tar Heels stay alive in NCAA tourney

KNOXVILLE, TN - Jenna Golembiewski homered to ignite a four-run second inning, and Madilyn Reeves bounced back with a winning performance as Miami edged North Carolina 4-3 Saturday in NCAA Tournament action. 

With the victory, Miami stayed alive and will face Ohio State in a game scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET. The Buckeyes are coached by former RedHawk Head Coach Kiran Kumar, who took over the OSU program this year. 

The Buckeyes are one of the nation's top offensive teams. Likewise, North Carolina entered the NCAA tourney with its best run production in program history. Reeves, however, scattered seven hits, surrendering single runs in three different innings while working out of several jams along the way. 
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Miami's offense . . .

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​. . . did not score after the second inning, but Reeves' pitching and the RedHawk defense made the four runs stand. 

NOTES:
• Neither team scored in the first inning. 
• Golembiewski opened the Miami second with a towering homer to left center. 
After a ground out, Erin Pinter singled and Danitza Hernandez doubled to right center. Shelby Kunkel drove in both runners with a single to left and advanced to third on a Tar Heels error. 
North Carolina changed pitchers, bringing in Britton Rogers to replace Kenna Raye Dark (18-0). 
Kaylee Oh's double to left scored Kunkel to give Miami a 4-0 lead. 
• Shelbie Barbee, who went 3-for-3 in the game, opened UNC's third with a single. Rayna Blackwell doubled to left center and two outs later, Lexie Roberts singled in the Tar Heels' first run. 
• Thompson singled to open UNC's fourth. Myrtle walked. After a strikeout, Barbee brought Thompson home to make it a 4-2 contest. There were still two runners on with one out, but Reeves got Blackwell on s strikeout and Grace Jackson grounded out to shortstop, with Ella Carter making a nice stretch on the receiving end. 
• Neither team scored in the fifth, but North Carolina chipped away again with a Carlie Myrtle homer to left with one out in the sixth. 
• Three outs stood between Miami and its chance to keep playing. Reeves took care of it quickly, inducing three groundouts to seal the victory.