MIAMI SOFTBALL

RedHawks rally, but Ohio completes sweep

ATHENS, OH  -- After trailing 5-0, Miami (26-22, 15.7 MAC) rallied late for six runs to take a lead. It wasn't enough, however, as Ohio (31-12, 14-4 MAC) scored single runs in its last two turns to pull out a 7-6 win Saturday at the Ohio Softball Field. 
The victory gave Ohio a sweep of the three-game series, as the 'Cats  took both ends of Friday's double header.
​Each of those games were pitching duels. Saturday's contest, however, turned . . . 

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. . . into an offensive battle as the teams combined for 13 runs and 26 hits. Unlike Friday, neither starter was able to finish. 
Sophomore Mikie Lieving picked up the win for Ohio. She was the third Bobcat pitcher on the afternoon. Skipp Miller started and went four shutout innings before MU broke through in the fifth. Anna Wise worked 1.2 innings between Miller and Lieving.
Madi Reeves, who leads the nation in innings pitched. started for MU and threw over 30 pitches in the first inning. She eventually went 3.1 innings, surrendering five runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and three walks while recording 85 pitches. Junior Le'a Chevrier (8-9) came on in relief, throwing 3.0 innings. She struck out three, walked three and allowed four hits while surrendering two runs (1 earned). 

OHIO 7, MIAMI 6
• Kaylee Oh singled in the top of the first, but she was caught stealing and MU went scoreless. Ohio, however, quickly went to work on Reeves. After a leadoff walk and double, Brenna Farmer drove in one run with a single through the right side. 
Reeves got outs on two of the next three batters, but Abby Kennedy brought Keidel in with a bases single to left. Farmer was caught in a rundown on the play and tagged out to end the inning. 
• Miami stroked five hits over the next three innings but could not get a run home. The RedHawks had two on with one out in the fourth, but Lieving escaped unscathed with back-to-back strikeouts. 
Ohio's offense took over on its next turn, Kennelly opened with a single, and Westler followed with a homer to make it 4-0. 
Belle Hummel slapped a triple to left and came home one batter later on a wild pitch. 
After a walk to Keidel, Chevrier came on to pitch for MU. She began with two  walks to load the bases but ended the frame with two pop outs. 
• Down 5-0, Miami got two back in the fifth. Kari Krueger opened with a double and went to third when Kunkel reached first on an error. 
After Kunkel stole second, Oh doubled in two runs with a shot to left. The sophomore, who has been playing left, held down shortstop Saturday. Offensively, she went 3 for 3 with a walk.
Wise replaced Miller in the circle for Ohio, and she retired three of the next four batters.
• Ohio went down 1-2-3 in the bottom half and Miami's offense went back to work in the sixth. Nine batters went to the place as the RedHawks rallied for four runs. 
- Golembiewski got it started with a single to left. She stole second and moved up to third on Erin Pinter's bunt single. 
Golembiewski scored on Krueger's bunt and Pinter moved up to second. When Oh battled her way to a walk, the bases were loaded with one out. 
Parks' double to right field scored two runs and tied the contest at 5-all. 
A relay throw on the play cut down Oh at the plate. However, Miami moved in front 6-5 when Campbell drove in Parks with a single to left. 
Lieving came in to relieve for Ohio and the 'Cats avoided further damage.
• The Miami lead was short-lived. Lauren Yuhas opened the Ohio sixth with a triple to left center and came home on Keidel's single to center. 
Ohio had runners on second and third with one out, but Chevrier got a strikeout and line out to end the rally.
• Miami went down in order in the top of the seventh. 
• Ohio struck quickly in its half. Abby Kennelly singled to shortstop and Westler walked. Humel's bunt single loaded the bases. 
Chevrier got one out with a strikeout, but Keidel followed with a fly to right. Kunkel appeared to catch it on the run, but the ball came loose as she hurried for a desperate throw to home. Kennelly scored, and Ohio completed the series sweep with a 7-6 victory. 

MORE NOTES:
• Miami out-hit the Bobcats 14-12. 
• Oh and Campbell had three hits apiece, totaling six of MU's 14 hits. 
• MU did not hit a home run during the three-game series at Ohio. The Bobcats homered once in each game. 
•  Miami (15-7 MAC) is now three games behind Ohio (14-4 MAC) in the loss column. Central Michican (14-5 MAC) and Ball State (13-5) MAC have one more loss apiece. 
•  The RedHawks visit Purdue Wednesday (5 p.m.) but are off next weekend. 
Their final regular season road trip is a double header Tuesday (April 29) at Bowling Green. Buffalo visits Oxford for three games May 3-4.  The first two contests are Saturday (beginning at 1 p.m.). Sunday's contest starts at noon. 
• The MAC Tournament begins May 7 in Akron