MIAMI SOFTBALL

MU strikes early, opens tourney with 6-3 win

By MIKE SMITH
AKRON, OH  -- Kaylee Oh stroked three hits, Holly Merritt drove in two runs and Shelby Kunkel homered as Miami (32-23) knocked off Ball State (32-17)  6-3 in second round 2025 MAC Softball Tournament action Thursday at Firestone Stadium. 

Madilyn Reeves (22-10) picked up the win, allowing two runs (1 earned) on  six hits. She struck out two, walked three and hit a batter in 5.0 innings. Le'a Chevrier got the save with two innings of work. She surrendered one run on two hits. The junior struck out . . . 

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. . . two and walked one while nailing down a victory that sends top-seeded Miami into a winners-bracket showdown against No. 2 seed Ohio Friday (noon). 

Avoiding a trip to the losers bracket was especially appreciated given Reeves seemed to struggle after several innings against Ball State. The sophomore leads MAC hurlers in innings pitched by more than 50 innings. Whatever the reason, Chevrier took over and successfully managed Miami through the final two stanzas. 

Both pitchers benefitted from some good defensive play. Miami did have the game's only two errors, with one leading to an early unearned run. However, the RedHawks "D" also turned in several big plays. Two came in the Cardinals' fourth frame when Jenna Golembiewski caught an inning-opening drive to the fence in center field. Pinter later ended the inning with a stabbing grab of MAC Player of the Year McKayla Timmons' rocket liner to left. 

In total, Ball State left 11 runners on base. Three of those came in the third when Reeves worked her way out of a bases loaded, no outs jam.

While Ball State pitchers shut out MU in two of their previous three meetings this year, the RedHawks offense jumped on Cardinal pitching early Thursday. Shelby Kunkel opened the bottom of the first with a walk. Kayle Oh then followed with an RBI triple off starter Breanna Severino (L8-6).
One out later, McKenna Campbell brought Oh home with a single to left center. After a fly out, Golembiewski walked and Holly Merritt made it a 4-0 Miami lead with a two-RBI double to center. 

Ella Whitney took over for Severino in the circle and not only ended MU's rally but kept Miami off the board for the next three frames, as well. 

With the help of an error, Ball State got one run back in the second. Kaitlyn Gibson singled with one out and went to third when McKenna Mulholland's squibber to first was mishandled. Hayley Urban's single to center scored Gibson. 

Ball State added another run in the fifth Lovett opened with a single and moved up on a ground out. She hustled into third when ball four to Mulholland got loose. Whitney's fly out to center was deep enough for Lovett to sprint home. 

Up 4-2, Miami regained its three-run edge with a run in the bottom half. Parks opened with a double to left and scored two outs later on a Golembiewski single. 

Chevrier retired the first two batters she faced in the sixth before the Cardinals put two on with a single and walk. However, Gunter flew out to end the inning. 

Miami made it a 6-2 game on its turn at bat as Kunkel drilled a two-out homer to right center. 

Ball State matched that with Whitney's solo shot to center in the seventh. However, Chevrier retired pinch-hitter Sophie Schoch on a ground out to end the contest. 

NOTES: 
• In addition to Oh's three hit performance, MU got multi-hit games from Kunkel (2) and Golembiewski (2). 
• Miami batters recorded two walks and struck out three times. The RedHawks left six on base. 
• Whitney's homer was BSU's only extra base hit among eight safeties. The Cardinals worked four walks and struck out four times. 
• Reeves threw 93 pitches in her five innings. Chevrier recorded 31 pitches. 
• Ohio's 7-0 win over NIU was a 2-0 game until the 'Cats erupted for five runs in the sixth. Ohio out-hit the Huskies 12-3.