MIAMI SOFTBALL

RedHawks bounce back with DH sweep over Broncos

Erin Pinter shouts to celebrate a win in Game One. (MVSmith/MRO)

OXFORD, OH -- Miami RedHawks softball got back to winning Saturday, posting wins over Western Michigan (10-12, 1-2 MAC) in both ends of a double header at the Miami Softball Complex. 
The Broncos took Friday night's MAC opener 8-6, but Miami (20-5, 2-1 MAC)held off WMU 6-5 in Saturday's first game and run-ruled the visitors 9-1 in a five-inning second game. 

"Yesterday, we just feel like we beat ourselves. The sac bunt (defense) errors caused kind of us to spiral and (eventually) lose the game," Miami head coach Mandy Gardner-Colegate said after Saturday's sweep. "Today we came out and wanted to get ahead early and stay ahead ... play team defense, talk it up, have good energy and just be intentional on both sides of the ball."

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MORE GAME PICS TO COME!!!

Angelina Ricciardi delivers a pitch during Miami's 6-5 win over Western Michigan. (MVSmith/MRO)

GAME ONE 
The RedHawks led Western Michigan 4-0 after four innings of Saturday's first game and took a six run lead to the seventh. Five hits and two outs later, WMU had the tying run on second. However, RedHawks hurler Angelina Ricciardi induced a groundout to short to end the final threat. 

"Ang came out and did really well," Gardner-Colegate said. "They really didn't start hitting her until the seventh." 

GAME ONE NOTES: 
•  A key play in Game One came in the Miami fifth inning. McKenna Campbell was on first when Erin Pinter grounded to short. The second baseman started to cover second for a force but backed away when it appeared the shortstop would take the out herself. Instead, she tossed it to an uncovered base. Campbell and Pinter were both safe, and Kari Krueger drove both in with a long single to left center.They were the final two MU runs in a one-run victory. 
•  Miami totaled six runs on seven hits. Mia Estrello went 2-for-3 with a walk for MU. 
•  The Broncos had five runs on seven hits. Rylee O'Brien led WMU's offense with two hits.
•  Both teams had two errors. 
•  Ricciardi raised her record on the year to 8-2. Five of the seven hits she surrendered came in the final inning. She struck out eight, walked two and hit a batter. 
•  Ava Geyer (3-3) took the loss. She worked 3.2 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) and six hits while walking four, hitting a batter and striking out one. Casey Fazzini finished, allowing two runs on just one hit. 

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GAME TWO
After a scoreless first inning, Miami put four runs on the board in the second. The rally came after two quick outs to start the inning. 
"We do really well with two outs. I think most of our runs this year, honestly, have come with two outs," Gardner-Colegate said.  
Singles by Campbell and Pinter started the rally. When Krueger was hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded. 
Bailey Manos quickly fell behind 0-2 on a pair of foul balls but worked the count to 3-2. Bailey, a lefty, then stroked the next pitch deep to left, barely clearing the wall and a leaping try by the left fielder for a grand slam. ​

Bailey Manos (1) completes her grand slam journey while teammates await and the umpire makes sure all bases are touched. (MVSmith/MRO)

Danitza Hermandez throws to first during Game Two of Miami's Saturday sweep of Western Michigan. (MVSmith/MRO)

"Opposite field and into the wind. That's impressive," Gardner-Colegate said with a grin during post-game remarks. "Bailey's home run was huge. She has been clutch all year for us."
"I think that's where most of mine have gone so far," said Manos, a former Purdue Fort Wayne player who now has nine homers for the RedHawks. 
"This year, I've gotten more power. I've already hit more home runs this year than I have in my last three years in college.," she said. "It feels good. ... We worked on hitting line drives, and when they go over, they go over." 

Western Michigan picked up its only run of Game Two in the fourth when Caitlin Tighe blasted a homer to left. 

Miami matched that in the bottom half when Mia Estrello singled in Pinter. MU then put the game away with three seventh inning runs. Leila Mathis and Campbell had RBI hits before pinch runner Jeneva Mitchell scored on an obstruction ruling at home plate.

GAME TWO NOTES
•  Lea Chevrier (6-1) got the win for Miami, allowing one run on four hits. She walked one and struck out three over five innings. 
"I'm really proud of Lea ... coming back with a strong (performance)," Gardner Colegate said. 
•  Hannah Potts (3-5) took the loss. She allowed six runs on six hits in 3.2 innings. She struck out five, walked one and hit a batter. Fazzini gave up three runs (2 earned) on four hits. 
•  Estrello (2) Mathis (2), Campbell (2) and Pinter (2) had multiple hits in Game Two. 

NEXT: Miami is schedule to play Northern Kentucky Tuesday and plays a three-game series at Akron Friday (1 game) and Saturday (2 games). 

SCHEDULE

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Mia Estrello takes a throw at second base dduring a Bronco steal attempt. (MVSmith/MRO)