MIAMI SOFTBALL

Senior pitchers shine; RedHawks sweep Falcons

Miami getting healthy as MAC tourney awaits

Katy Olive makes a catch in Game One. (MVSmith/MRO)

By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH  -- Senior pitchers Presley Hosick and Lea Chevrier hurled complete games, while Ella Carter delivered a clutch RBI double in Game Two as Miami swept Bowling Green 5-0 and 3-2 in Saturday's double header at Miami Softball Stadium.

"I think we only gave up three runs the whole weekend and .. only two of them were earned," Miami head coach Mandy Gardner-Colegate said. "Anytime we can only give up three runs in a three-game series, that's pretty good, and it sets up our offense for pretty good success." 

It was the final . . . 

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. . . regular season action for both teams, with the RedHawks finishing 38-16 overall, 19-8 MAC. Bowling Green ended its compaign at 20-29 overall, 6-20 MAC). The Falcons did not qualify for next week's Mid-American Conference Tournament. MU has already qualfied, but it is waiting on outcomes elsewhere in MAC play this weekend to find out its matchup. The most likely opponent is either Central Michigan or Western Michigan, according to Gardner-Colegate. The tourney is scheduled for May 6-9 at Akron's Firestone Stadium. 

Presley Hosick delivers a pitch during Game One action. The senior has 19 wins to her credit so far this year. (MVSmith/MRO)

GAME ONE 
•  Hosick (W, 19-5) scattered five hits, while striking out three in the opener. She did not walk a batter. 
•  Miami's offense, meanwhile, totaled eight runs on two hits. It also worked two walks and benefitted from two Falcon errors.
•  Three batters into Miami's first turn on offense, Danitza Hernandez doubled in one run. Another scored  on McKenna Campbell's groundout. 
•  MU made it 3-0 in the second when Carter opened with a homer to right center. 
•  The RedHawks managed one run in the third, but Bowling Green's defense threw out two Miami runners at the plate to avoid further damage. 
•  After scoreless fourth and fifth innings, MU added a final run in the sixth. Bailey Manos singled with one out and moved to third on an error. Two batters later, she tagged up and trotted home courtesy of a Hernandez fly out to center. 
•  BGSU started with a leadoff single in the seventh. However, Hosick got a fly out and her defense finished off the Falcons with a game-ending double play. 
•  Manos led MU's offense, with three hits. 
•  Mackenzie Krafcik (L, 10-10) took the loss for Bowling Green, allowing nine hits and four runs in three innings. 

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Mia Estrello turns a double play to end Game One. (MVSmith/MRO)

Lea Chevrier had a no-hit shutout going through five innings of Game Two. (MVSmith/MRO)

GAME TWO 
•  Chevrier (W, 9-5), who earlier this week returned from injury, once again got off to a bit of trouble early. She walked two of the first three Falcon batters, but then settled down to end the inning with two straight strikeouts. She would finish the day with a career-high seven Ks. 
•  Miami also mounted an early threat with back-to-back singles by Manos and Mia Estrello. However, a double-play and fly out ended the would-be rally. 
•  Neither team got more than three batters to the plate again until Miami's half of the fourth inning. Estrello singled to left and Hernandez followed with a double down the left field line. 
McKenna Campbell's out on a fielders choice brought Estrello home. Hernandez then tagged and scored one batter later as Evey Dieudonne flied out to right.
•  After being no-hit through five innings, Bowling Green broke through in the sixth. Hannah Simko's one-out bouncer over first base went for a double. Chevrier got Chevalier out on a pop out, but Hannah Hunt singled to right, bringing in Simko. A walk put two on, with the tying run on second. However, Chevrier ended the inning with a strikeout. 
•  The RedHawks still led 2-1, but another run -- or more -- might be needed. They got one in the bottom half when Hernandez walked and moved to second on a grounder to first. Bowling Green got another out on a foul fly and then replaced Mackenzie Krafcik with Morgan Beckham. The count was 2-2 when Carter drove the next pitch off the right field wall. Hernandez scored, giving Miami a 3-1 advantage after six innings. 
Carter later said she had seen Beckham's pitching repetoire before and was ready for the moment, noting it was great to support the team -- and Chevrier's solid pitching --  in a tight game.

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"She's been great with two outs," Gardner-Colegate said of Carter. "Last weekend at Central, she came up clutch a couple times." 

Ella Carter homered in Game One and hit a game-winning RBI double in Game Two. (MVSmith/MRO)

•  The Falcons' offense went to work again in the seventh, opening the frame with two straight singles. Hanna Massaro then lined a shot to right, scoring one run. However, Miami also got a force out at second on the play. 
Another force out at second gave MU two outs before Hannah Simko singled. That left the tying run on second and go-ahead run at first. Chevrier then got Chevalier to bounce to first. Estrello was there for the cover, taking Carter's toss for the final out. 
•  Estrello went 2-for-3 and was the only RedHawk with multiple hits.
•  Miami out-hit the Falcons overall 7-5. 
•  The two teams combined to strand 12 runners (BGSU 7, MU 5) in Game Two.

Evey Dieudonne celebrates an RBI double. (MVSmith/MRO)

MORE
•  The RedHawks have been fighting their way through some significant injuries since MAC play began. According to Gardner-Colegate, "We finally feel like we are close to full strength."
-- Pitching was one of the injury-hit areas, but the return of Chevrier should be a boost. "She hasn't thrown seven innings in probably a month. To see her going the distance today is (encouraging)," Gardner-Colegate said.  "I'm excited to get her back on the mound, because she is going to be a huge piece for next week. She hadn't thrown to live batters in a few weeks." 
•  Despite struggling through injries, the RedHawks have won 12 of their last 14 conference games. Asked about the upcoming MAC tourey, Carter echoed her coach's enthusiasm. "Oh yeah. We're ready to go."
•  Post-Game Two activities included honoring the senior class. 
"They're a great group of young ladies," Gardner-Colegate said. "I think most of them are having career years. It's just really cool to see their hard work and dedication to this program pay off." 

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Senior shortstop Danitza Hernandez takes a throw from right field to get a force out at second base. (MVSmith/MRO)