MIAMI SOFTBALL

RedHawks begin tourney journey against Broncos

MU finally healthier in final weeks of regular season

The Miami RedHawks open Mid-American Conference Softball Tournament play Wednesday (2:20 p.m.). They'll face Western Michigan. 

Unlike recent years, when MU was able to win a regular season title, this year's group finished third and is, therefore, a No. 3 seed. Western Michigan is a No. 6 seed. 

Should Miami win, it would play No. 2 seed Northern Illinois Thursday (2:30 p.m.). If MU loses the opener, it will face Either No. 4 Ohio or No. 5 Central Michigan at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Winner continues. Loser is done. 

Here's a quick Q & A on the Miami vs Western Michigan matchup.
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>> What were the two teams ranked in the MAC preseason poll?
Miami was picked No. 1 seed, while Western Michigan was ranked eighth. 

Interestingly, Akron was picked for fourth but finished first and is the No. 1 seed on a tournament in Akron (albeit a different field). Ball State was a preseason No. 3 pick, but the Cardinals finished seventh -- one spot out of the qualifying field of six. 

>> What were the regular season records of MU and WMU?

Miami finished 17-10 in conference play and 31-23 overall.
The Broncos went 15-12 MAC and 26-24 overall.
Among WMU's non-converence victories was an 11-10 win at Ohio State March 11. 
The RedHawks posted two wins over Minnesota (5-3, 6-1) and one over San Diego State during a February west coast swing. They also knocked off Missouri (8-2) on Feb. 28.

>> What happened when MU and WMU met during 2026 conference play?
•  The three-game series was played in Oxford March 13-14. It was the first conference action for both teams. 
•  Western Michigan won the first game 8-6. Miami prevailed in both ends of Saturday's double header -- 6-5 and 9-1 (5 innings).

FRIDAY GAME -- (WMU 8, MU 6) 
•  WMU scored five runs in the fourth and eight in the sixth. Miami out-hit the visitors 11-8 but commmitted four errors. Only two of the runs were earned. 
•  Lea Chevrier took the loss, while Hannah Potts got the win, striking out seven, walking two and hitting one batter. 
•  Bailey Manos, Mia Estrello , Katy Olive and Leila Mathis recorded two hits apiece for Miami, with Manos and Olive swatting homers. Anna Niles homoered for the Broncos.

SATURDAY GAME ONE -- (MU 6, WMU 5)
•  Miami scored in four of the first five innings, building up a 6-1 lead. After a scoreless sixth, Western Michigan sent eight batters to the plate in a four-run seventh. The tying run was stranded at second. 
•  Angelina Ricciardi picked up the win, throwing 121 pitches over seven innings. She struck out eight, walked four, hit a batter and gave up four runs 3 earned) on seven hits. Ava Geyer (3.2 innings) took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits, four walks and 1 HBP. Casey Fazzini (2.1 innings) finished, allowing two runs. Bronco pitching recorded just one strikeout. 
•  Estrello had two hits and scored twice for Miami. Danitza Hernandes and Kari Krueger recorded two RBIs apiece. 
•  Rylee O'brien went two-for-three with two RBI's for WMU. 

SATURDAY GAME TWO -- (MU 9, WMU 1)
•  Lea Chevrier picked up the win, scattering four hits and walking one while striking out three in the five-inning game. Potts (3.2 innings) got the loss, surrendering six runs while striking out five, walking one and hitting one batter in her 3.2 innings of work. Fazzini was tagged with three runs (2 earned) in 1.0 innings. 
•  Manos' second inning grand slam opened scoring. Caitlin Tighe hit a solo shot for WMU in the fourth, but Miami answered with two more for a 6-1 lead. Three more RedHawk runs in the fifth invoked the run rule. 
•  Leila Mathis, McKenna Campbell and Erin Pinter all had multi-hit games in MU's 10-hit total. 

>> How do the two teams rank on offense? (MAC games only) 
Miami leads the league in batting with a .354 mark. The Broncos are eighth (.292). 
MU is tied for first in slugging percentage (.587) and second in home runs (40). Western Michigan is eighth in slugging (.458) and fifth in homers (21). 
•  Manos leads league in batting average (481). Hernandez (9th, .412) and Campbell (10th, .400) are also among the MAC's top 10.
Emily Lampela (.419) tops the Broncos and is seventh among MAC hitters). 
•  Olive (MU) is second among MAC players in homers (9). Manos, who missed significant time due to injury.

​>> Pitching is always a key. How do these teams look in pitching? (MAC games only) 
•  Western Michigan's Ava Geyer leads the league with a 2.53 ERA over 66.1 innings. Miami's Hosick is right behind her at .256 in 99.0 innings. 
Potts (WMU) is eighth with a 3.68 ERA. Chevrier (MU) is 12th with a 4.24 ERA.

•  Both Hosick and Chevrier missed time with injuries. Both returned within the past two weeks, with Chevrier finally getting back in the circle twice last week.
Much depends on their health and performance. Avoiding walks would certainly help. 

•  Hosick recently earned MAC Pitcher of the Week honors. She posted an outstanding 0.50 ERA, allowing just one earned run across two complete games. Over 14.0 innings, she gave up only nine hits and three walks while striking out eight batters and holding opponents to a .184 batting average. She also recorded a shutout against BGSU. 

•  So would defensive support. The injury bug forced lineup/fielding changes for several weeks. Efforts have been made to get as many players healthy for tournament time as possible. 

•  Miami's offense has also been somewhat inconsistent recently. Hitting the long ball is certainly a good sign, but getting some key hits inside the fence -- especially with people on base -- is certainly important in a tournament format.