MIAMI SOFTBALL

Parks seizes opportunity with walk-off hit

By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- After holding a 6-0 lead through three innings, the Miami RedHawks (13-15, 3-0 MAC) needed a seventh inning walkoff double by Chloe Parks to pull out a 7-6 win over Dayton (12-9, 3-0 A-10) Wednesday.
Dayton scored three in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth to forge a 6-all tie. The Flyers, in fact, nearly seized a lead in the top of  seventh, but a throw . . . 

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Chloe Parks had three hits, including a walk-off double as Miami edged Dayton 7-6 (MVSmith/MRO file)

. . . from left fielder Kaylee Oh cut down the go-ahead run on a play at home to end the threat. 

McKenna Campbell drew a leadoff walk to start the Miami seventh. She then advanced to second on a ground out. UD pitcher Camrynn Linneman got a strikeout for the second out. But with first base open, the Flyers decided to intentionally walk RedHawk slugger Jenna Golembiewski. That brought up Parks, who already had two hits on the day, and the senior responded with a walkoff double to center field. 

Junior Le'a Chevrier (5-5) picked up the win with two innings of one-run relief, walking one and striking out two. Sophomore Madilyn Reeves worked the first five innings for MU. She allowed five runs on seven hits with four walks and five Ks. Only two of the runs were earned, as the RedHawks committed three errors. 

Linneman (1-3) , who worked the final 3.2 innings, took the loss despite giving up just one run. 

Both teams totaled 12 hits. Flyer pitchers struck out eight and walked seven. Miami hurlers recorded seven strikeouts and five walks. 
Parks and Campbell led Miami's offense with three hits apiece. They combined for five rbi's. Oh added two more. Shelby Kunkel had two hits. 

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Kaylee Oh makes a throw during Miami's recent game against Marshall . (MVSmith/MRO file)

NOTES:
• Miami returns to Mid-American Conference action Friday when it opens a three-game series against Northern Illinois. All three games are at the Miami Softball Field. Friday's start time is 3 p.m. Saturday games begin at 1 p.m. and (approximately) 3 p.m.
• Miami was the only MAC team to win all three games during the opening weekend. The RedHawks took three from Kent State. 
Ten of eleven MAC teams played. Ohio, which holds the top overall record (17-8) of all MAC teams, did not play.
• Miami currently ranks No. 1 among MAC teams in batting (.309 average). It also leads in hits (245) and home runs (45). 
• The RedHawks are 10th in fielding percentage (0.951)
• MU pitching is ranked fifth in pitching ERA (5.21). The 128 walks is last among all MAC teams. Only Kent State (124) and Miami have issued more than 100 walks. 

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