MIAMI SOFTBALL

MU Softball bounces back, ends EKU streak 

MRO STAFF
OXFORD, OH -- Karli Spaid cracked two home runs and No. 25 Miami got back on the winning track with an 11-3 non-conference win over Eastern Kentucky Wednesday at the Miami Softball Stadium.

The long balls were No. 95 and No. 96 for Spaid, moving her into second place in the NCAA record book for career home runs. She also secured the MAC single-season record and broke her own Miami single season mark with 29 on the campaign. 

Madilyn Reeves (15-3) went the distance for Miami, which raised its season record to 37-7 (18-1 MAC). She struck out six and walked five while allowing six hits and three runs. 

Maddi Rutan (21-3) took the loss for Eastern Kentucky, which fell to 36-6 (17-1 ASUN) after MU broke its 10-game win streak.

Wednesday's contest was . . .

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. . . MU's first time back on the diamond following Sunday's 9-5 loss at Central Michigan and the RedHawks' offense sputtered through two innings.

Eastern Michigan, meanwhile, loaded the bases with one out before Maggie Partee scored on a ground out to give the visitors a quick 1-0 edge. However, Reeves got out of the inning without further damage and shut out EKU for the next three innings.

Miami's offense came to life in the third, eventually taking advantage of three walks among the first four batters. Kate Kobayashi's fly out to center brought in Sami Bewick with the tying run. Spaid followed with a three-run blast to right.

Holly Blaska kept the rally going with a double to left, and Jenna Golembiewski singled her in to put Miami up 5-1.

The fourth inning was even more productive. Bewick doubled in Chloe Parks to get things started. Victoria Byrum came in to pitch, surrendering a walk to Hadley Parisien and single to Allie Cummins. That loaded the bases, and Kobayashi nearly clearned them with a double to center field. Two runs scored on that hit, and three more followed when Spaid hit her second homer of the contest. That gave MU an 11-1 lead. 

Jeanay Riley's solo homer highlighted a two-run fifth for EKU, but Reeves preserved the five-inning run-rule finish by retiring the final two batters and stranding three Colonels. 

NOTES:
-- The RedHawks play their final home series of 2024 this weekend when they face Kent State.  The Flashes are 9-10 in MAC play and have the league's longest active winning streak (4 games). Buffalo (2) is the only other team with a multiple game win streak. 

FULL STANDINGS HERE!!

-- Miami and KSU open Friday (5  p.m. ET). They will play a double header Saturday, with games scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
-- Cummins played in her 238th game Wednesday, tying her for the MAC career record.
-- Kobayashi drove in three runs and was inches away from a homer twice.