RedHawks and Bobcats meet in BIG series ![]() Riding a six-game winning streak, the Miami RedHawks softball team faces a big weekend series, starting Friday when MU meets Ohio. The series continues into Saturday when the RedHawks and Bobcats face off in a double header. Miami was the preseason favorite, while Ohio was second in the poll. Ohio has experienced something of a roller coaster season thus far . . . . . . and enter the weekend with a 13-14 overall record. They are 1-2 in MAC play, having dropped two games at Ball State before shutting out the Cardinals 7-0 last Sunday. Ohio started 2024 with a 9-0 run-rule win over Michigan State at the FAU Paradise Classic in Florida. However, the 'Cats then dropped four straight, including a 7-3 loss to No. 12/16 Arkansas. It went much better for Ohio at the Spiro Classic, where they won all five games, with victories over Sacred Heart (2), Drexel and UNC Greensboro (2). The Bobcats followed that success up by winning four of five in the Frost Classic. The Green and White run ruled IUPUI 15-2 to start the Fovernors Classic, but then dropped three straight. Three more losses followed at the Beach Chick Brawl before Ohio edged George Mason 4-2 in the finale. Returning home, the Bobcats knocked off rival Marshall 9-2 before hitting the road again at Ball State .. and now Miami. The RedHawks are 4-0 at home this year. After sweeping Western Michigan last weekend, MU edged Louisville 8-7 Tuesday, scoring two in the bottom of the seventh to pull out the victory. MORE NOTES -- Ohio ranks fifth among MAC teams in hitting (.276) and is fifth in home runs (16). Tori O'Brien ranks seventh among hitters with an average of .382. Logan Yasmile is hitting .315 and has a team-high six homers. She also owns a team-high slugging percentage of .630 -- The Bobcats are second in pitching (3.22 ERA) and fifth in home runs allowed (12) Skipp Miller is fifth among pitchers with a 2.43 ERA. Mikie Lieving carries a 3.74 ERA (11th). -- Ohio is fourth in fielding (.957) -- Miami ranks seventh among NCAA Division I teams in batting average (.350).
-- MU leads the national in average home runs per game (2.92) and two RedHawks lead the way. Karli Spaid is first (.76 per game/19 total), while Jenna Golembiewski is second (.72 per game/18 total). Head Coach Kirin Kumar noted her team's power production has improved on a 2023 season that was very impressive. Not only is the top of the lineup playing long ball, the middle and lower parts are are also threats -- either with homers or setting the table for power hitters. "That's what makes our offense so good," she said, adding the seven-hole has six home runs and the nine-hole is hitting over .300. "All that is a big deal." -- Kirin explained that with numerous skilled hitters available, she is able to tailor lineups to different opposing pitchers, defenses and/or situation. -- Miami pitching ranks last among MAC teams in pitching ERA (4.45) and is sixth in opponent batting average (.274). The RedHawks have issued 78 walks (8th) -- The RedHawks have eight hitters (minimum 2 PA/G and 75% of games played) batting over .300. Golembiewski (.500) and Hadley Parisien (.417) lead the way. -- Spaid (1.139) and Golembiewski (1.293) top Miami hitters in slugging percentage. -- Addi Jarvis leads MU pitchers with nine wins against one loss. Freshman Madilyn Reeves is 5-2, while Ashley Hitchcock is 5-3. Jarvis has thrown five complete games. -- Reeves has 50 strikeouts while allowing 34 walks and six homers. Jarvis registered 40 Ks with 22 walks and 13 homers allowed. "It's great. We've got very different pitchers, so we can have great matchups," Kirin said, adding "When they're on, they're on. All we ask them to do is give our offense a chance to win, and that is what they do every day." -- Anybody arriving late at a Miami game is liable to miss quite a bit. The RedHawks have made a habit of scoring early. "We want to be ready first pitch," Kirin said. -- Comments are closed.
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Editor-Publisher Mike SmithMike grew up in Mid-American Conference football and basketball territory and returned there after military service. He has been covering MAC football and men's basketball for much of the last several decades. Archives
February 2025
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