MIAMI SOFTBALL

RedHawks extend streak with back-to-back 5-4 wins

By MIKE SMITH
KALAMAZOO, MI -- The Miami RedHawks continue to live a softball life on the edge. More importantly, they continue to win and remain undefeated in Mid-American Conference play. 
Miami (18-16, 8-0 MAC) opened its second MAC road series Friday with a pair of 5-4 wins over Western Michigan (8-22, 2-3 MAC).  The victories ran MU's current winning streak to six games, five of which were one-run verdicts. The other was by a mere two runs.
Sophomore Madilyn Reeves (11-6) got the . . . 

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. . . win in Game One, tossing seven innings of nine-hit ball. She struck out eight and walked just one. 
Like Reeves, Junior Le'a Chevrier (7-5) went seven innings in Game Two. She allowed four runs and six hits, striking out six and walking four while also hitting two batters. Reeves picked up the save, holding the Broncos scoreless while giving up one hit in the eighth inning. 

GAME ONE: MIAMI 5, WESTERN MICHIGAN 4
• Miami jumped in front with two run in the top of the first. Kaylee Oh opened the game with a single and later scored on a Shelby Kunkel base hit. Chloe Parks's double to left brought in Kunkel.
• WMU got one run back on a leadoff homer by Kelly Payton. After a groundout, the Broncos then got another double and moved the runner to third. However, Reeves struck out two batters to end the threat. 
• Western Michigan tied the game (2-2) with one run on three hits in the second. 
• After a scoreless third, Miami struck for three runs in the fourth. Holly Merritt's double scored the first run with one out. MeKenna Campbell and Danitza Hernandez each drove in single runs with two down. 
• WMU pulled within one in the fifth with a walk and a blast. Jordan Smith's homer to left scored Riley Dittmar. 
• Both teams had one hit but left two on base in a scoreless sixth. 
• Down 5-4, the Broncos got back-to-back one-out singles in the seventh. However, Reeves shut the door by inducing a game-ending double play. 
• With her eight Ks, Reeves surpassed 100 strikeouts on the season. 
•  Campbell and Parks each went 2-for-3 at the plate.
•  Kunkel went 2-for-4 at the plate.

GAME TWO: MIAMI 5, WESTERN MICHIGAN 4 (8 innings)
• After a scoreless first, Miami took a 1-0 lead in the second when Erin Pinter singled in Campbell. 
• Western Michigan tied the contest with one run in the third.
• Jenna Golembiewski's fifth inning two-run home run to left center put the visiting RedHawks in front 3-1.
• Another long ball, this time by Campbell, gave MU a 4-1 lead mid-way through the sixth inning. 
• Western Michigan stormed back to tie the game with a three-run sixth. All three runs came home on Tristen Head's circuit shot. 
• Oh singled to start Miami's seventh. She stole second and made it to third on an error. However, WMU pitcher Kaylee Salyer (0-5) retired three straight batters in the heart of MU's order. 
The Broncos were unable to score against Chevrier in their half of the seventh. 
• Miami opened the eighth with a Merritt double and Campbell single. Both runners were able to move up. However, a Hernandez flyout to center resulted in two outs when the runner at third was rung up for leaving early. 
Pinter provided the game winning shot, tripling to centerfield to drive in pinch runner Sydney Gilbert. 
• Reeves replaced Chevrier in the circle for WMU's final at bat. She gave up a walk and single but got out of the jam with a popup and double play. 

• ​Golembiewski recorded her 150th career hit with a two-run homer
• Kunkel and Pinter went 2-for-3 at the plate. Campbell went 3-for-4.
• Seven different RedHawks had hits.