MIAMI SOFTBALL

Miami streak ends with non-conference loss to Marshall

Walks contribute to visitors' big innings 

McKenna Campbell throws to first to complete a strikeout. (MVSmith/MRO)

By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- Early damage proved too much to overcome as visiting Marshall (15-11) ended Miami's five-game winning streak with a 10-7 victory Tuesday at the Miami Softball Stadium. 

Nine of the Thundering Herd runs came during the first three frames. Miami scored just three runs during that span. Both teams added a single run in the fifth, and Miami rallied for four runs in the seventh. 

Each team totaled eight hits, but the Herd took advantage of seven walks by Miami pitching and a RedHawk error. Three of the walks were issued by freshman starter Shelbie Krieger (0-4), who also surrendered four hits and five runs. 

"She's a freshman. She's only had . . .

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Ella Carter throws to first for an out. (MVSmith/MRO)

. . . one start on the year, and that was against South Carolina -- a tough start," Miami Head Coach Mandy Gardner Colegate said. "I wanted to give her an opportunity (to start against a non-league opponent)." 

After getting two outs, Krieger surrendered a solo homer and two singles before escaping further damage in the opening inning. 

Miami got the run back on Jenna Golembiewski's first homer of the day. However, Marshall quickly went back to work on RedHawk pitching in the second. Three straight walks and a two-rbi single drove Krieger from the game. Le'a Chevrier came on in relief, but the Herd managed three more runs to go up 6-1. 

Brooklyn Ulrich's three-run blast in the third increased Marshall's advantage to 9-1. Madilyn Reeves then came in to replace Chevrier and get the last two outs.

McKenna Campbell's solo homer to center left the RedHawks with a 9-2 deficit after three innings. 

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Jenna Golembiewski drives a seventh-inning pitch over the left field wall for a grand slam. The senior had two homers against Marshall. (MVSmith/MRO)

Reeves worked the final 4.2 innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out eight and walking two. 

"Maddy Reeves came in and I really think she commanded that zone and kind of shut them down. So, I was really proud of her," Gardner-Colegate said. 

Down 10-3 entering the seventh, the RedHawks broke through for a big inning. Two walks and a single loaded the bases, before Golembiewski drove a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence for a grand slam. It was her second homer of the contest, with the senior totaling two hits and five rbi's for the day.

She had some "really quality at-bats ... today," Gardner-Colegate said, adding, "She's getting hot at the right time. I feel like a lot of our hitters are." 

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NOTES:
• The RedHawks host Dayton in another non-conference game Wednesday. They will then get back to MAC play with a three-game series against Northern Illinois in Oxford. Friday's game starts at 3 p.m. Saturday's double-header is scheduled for 1p.m. and 3 p.m.
•  Jules King (5-5) got the win for Marshall, allowing three runs and four hits in 4.1 innings. Maddie Veal followed with four runs and four hits in 2.2 innings.  Herd pitching struck out seven and issued four walks. 
• Gardner-Colegate said getting a couple mid-week non-conference games in will help prepare her squad for some upcoming Mid-American Conference dates. 
• Senior outfielder Shelby Kunkel and sophomore Madilyn Reeves earned Mid-American Conference Player of the Week awards following Miami's sweep of Kent State last weekend. 
The RedHawks scored 40 runs across four games this week, a quarter of those were from Kunkel's RBI.
Reeves had another dominant week in the circle, leading RedHawk pitchers in ERA (1.75), wins (3), innings pitched (16), strikeouts (12), and opponent batting average (.193). In four games she allowed just four extra-base hits.

Holly Merritt cuts off a sharp grounder down the line, turning it into an out. (MVSmith/MRO)