MIAMI SOFTBALL

RedHawks fall as Ohio rallies late 

By MIKE SMITH
AKRON, OH -- Miami overcame an early 2-2 deficit, but Ohio's three-run seventh inning rally allowed the Bobcats to defeat MU 5-2 Friday in 2025 MAC Tournament action at Firestone Stadium. 
With the loss, Miami (32-24) fell into the losers bracket, where it will face the Akron vs Ball State winner at 5:30 p.m. (Friday). The winner of that matchup would need to beat Ohio (37-17) twice Saturday claim a tourney title. 

Skipp Miller (19-7) picked up the win for Ohio, limiting Miami to two runs on six hits. She walked two, struck out two and hit a batter. 
Madilyn Reeves (22-11) went . . . 

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. . . the distance for MU. She surrendered five runs on 11 hits, including four hits coming in the decisive seventh inning. Reeves stuck out nine, walked two and hit a batter. 

Cici Keidel (2-for-4), Brenna Famer (3-for-3) and Emma Hoffner (2) had multi-hit days for Ohio, with the latter driving in three runs. Cloe Parks went 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead the RedHawks.

The Bobcats took an early lead when Keidel and Farmer hit back-to-back doubles with one out. 

Farmer and Emma Hoffner stroked back-to-back doubles for another Ohio run in the top of the third. However, Miami answered this time with a pair of runs to tie the contest. 

Danitza Hernandez led off with an infield single and went to second on a throwing error. Two outs later, Parks tripled to right center. McKenna Campbell then drew a walk before Ella Carter drove a game-tying single to center. Miller ended the rally with one of her two strikeouts on the day, 

Ohio threatened in the sixth, loading the bases with one out. However, Reeves induced two grounders for outs as MU escaped without damage. 

It was a different story in the seventh. Two one-out singles and a walk loaded the bases. When Hoffner muscled a bouncer over second, two runners scored. After a hit-batter, Kennell singled to right. One run scored, while a second runner was thrown out at the place. 

Down 5-2, Miami managed to get its first two runners (walk and HBP) on bottom of the inning. That brought up the top of MU's order. However, Miller finished the RedHawks with three straight fly-ball outs.