MIAMI SOFTBALL

RedHawks edge Ohio; head to championship game

By MRO STAFF
AKRON, OH - Madilyn Reeves overcame some early control issues  and the RedHawks offense rallied early in a 3-1 Miami victory over No. 2 seed Ohio Friday afternoon at Firestone Stadium. 

With the win, top-seeded Miami (47-7) moves into Saturday's championship game. Its opponent would need to beat MU twice to claim the MAC Tourney title. 

The RedHawks had six hits on the day, with four coming in a three-run first inning. Meanwhile, Ohio (31-23) totaled three hits against Reeves. None came in the first inning, but that was when the Bobcats scored their only run.

Reeves (22-3) walked two of the . . .

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MADILYN REEVES (MVSmith/MRO file)

. . .  first three batters, including Lauren Yuhas. A sacrifice bunt moved her to second and she advanced to third on a passed ball while Emma Hoffner drew a four-pitch walk. Izzie Wilson's fly to left scored a tagging Yuhas.

Reeves walked another batter on four pitches, but stranded two Bobcat runners by striking out Sydney Grein. The freshman pitcher would finish the game with five walks and two strikouts. She was aided by a Miami defense that played errorless ball after committing four errors that led to four unearned run in MU's tourney opener Wednesday (a 5-4 win over Toledo).

Down 1-0, the RedHawks responded quickly in their half of the first inning. Kate Kobayashi worked a leadoff walk and Karli Spaid followed with a home run to right field for a 2-1 Miami lead. It was the 36th home run of 2024 for the nation's home run leader and went out close to where she hit a game-tying homer in the seventh inning Thursday. 

Jenna Golembiewski kept the rally going by hustling her way to a double when the Ohio left fielder unsuccessfully dove for her sinking liner. She quickly retrieved the ball, but Golembiewski's head first slide into second just beat the tag. Allie Cummins then cashed in on Miami's opportunity with an RBI single to right center. 

A Sami Bewick single chased Ohio starter Skipp Miller (16-15), who was replaced by Mikie Lieving. She finished loading the basis with a walk to Chloe Parks, but then induced two ground outs to end the rally. 

Liieving went on to hold Miami scoreless the rest of the way. However, Reeves did likewise against Ohio's offense. 

Spaid's diving catch of a line drive robbed Ohio of one hit in the fourth inning. However, when CiCi Keidel's followed with a single, it marked the Bobcats final hit. Reeves allowed just one walk over her final 3.1 innings. 

Miami, meanwhile, managed just two singles and a walk after the opening frame. Ohio used double plays to snuff out potential trouble in both the fifth and sixth innings. 

NOTES:
-- It was the 47th RedHawks win f this season, setting a new Miami single-season win mark. 
-- Spaid's 36th homer left her one away from tying the single season home run record of 37. 
-- Bewick was 2-for-2 at the plate.

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