MIAMI SOFTBALL

Neighboring programs face off in crucial battle​

By MIKE SMITH
The Miami RedHawks softball team isn't a unit that panics. Saturday may tell if it is a unit that can regroup. 

Virginia threw a big bucket of cold water on the RedHawks Friday, shutting out Miami for the first time this year. That sent MU into a Saturday elimination game against Dayton, who was also shutout. Overall NCAA No. 3 seed Tennessee topped the Flyers 3-0 in Friday's second game at Sherri Park Lee Stadium. 

It was Dayton's first appearance in the NCAA Softball Tournament. With their opening loss, the A-10 champions bring a 33-20 record to Saturday's crucial (3:30 p.m. ET)  contest between neighboring Ohio programs. 

Here are some notes on Dayton's Friday experience . . . 

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-- Three Dayton pitchers limited the vaunted Vols to four hits. Starter Haven Dwyer (14-6) took the loss, allowing two hits and two runs (1 earned) in 3.2 innings. She struck out three and walked five. Izzy Kemp threw 2.0 innings, giving up one run and two hits. She walked one and did not stike out a batter. Sarah Bailitz faced one batter and struck her out. 
-- Collectively, the pitchers struck out four and walked six. They induced five ground outs and nine fly outs. 
-- No Tennessee batter had more than one hit. All four hits were singles. 
-- The Vols parlayed a walk, a Dayton error and a single into two second inning runs. Their only other score came in the fifth. After a single, walk and ground out, Sophia Nugent singled in a run. 
-- Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (20-6) struck out 12 Flyers and did not walk a batter. 
-- Catcher Nico Papavasiliou and right fielder Kaelene Walter singled to open Dayton's third inning. However, they were UD's only hits on the day.

SATURDAY KEYS:
-- Dayton pitching led the A-10 with a 2.45 ERA and really did pretty well against a Tennessee team that earned a No. 3 overall seed. Miami simply must find its offense. The Flyers will no doubt go to school on how Virginia pitched RedHawk hitters. 
Miami Head Coach Kirin Kumar felt her hitters were "expanding" the zone against UVA, so discipline/pitch selection may be part of the answer. 
-- A little (better) luck wouldn't hurt. Miami hit into some bad luck against Virginia. At least before UVA homers opened the gap, MU was still within striking distance. Kobayashi's third inning line over first base turned into a double play. Karli's Spaid's fifth inning drive to center was just a couple feet short of making it a 3-2 game. 
-- There's enough pressure in an NCAA elimination game without populating the basepaths with opposing runners. Miami must significantly limit walks and other free passes in general. Of course, getting ahead in the count -- or at least not falling behind -- could be helpful, as well.