MIAMI SOFTBALL

RedHawks storm back for another tourney title

Senior Parks named tournament MVP

By MIKE SMITH
AKRON, OH  --  It took a comeback for Miami softball to win a regular season championship. Ultimately, it would take the same for the RedHawks to win the 2025 MAC tourney. 
They found a way.
Madilyn Reeves (23-11) scattered eight hits and Miami (35-24) blasted two home runs during an 8-2 RedHawks victory over Ohio (37-19) Saturday at Firestone Stadium. Reeves struck out the side in the seventh to nail down a victory that gave MU it's fourth straight MAC Tournament title and a spot in the NCAA tournament. 
Sunday's selection . . . 

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Madilyn Reeves (MVSmith/MRO file)

. . . show (7 p.m., ESPN2) will reveal Miami's next opponent. NCAA tournament action begins Friday, May 16. 
Ohio, which won all three matchups against MU in the regular season, had sent MU to the losers bracket with a 5-2 loss Friday. Miami later defeated Ball State on an 8-0 Le'a Chevrier no-hitter. That got the RedHawks to Sunday. However, they needed to beat an Ohio team that was 4-0 against MU this year.
Chevier started Game One and shut out the Bobcats 6-0. Reeves got the call in Game Two and surrendered just two runs (one earned). 
Ohio pitching had largely tamed RedHawk bats, but the MU offense exploded for a combined 14 runs Sunday. All six RedHawk runs in Saturday's Game One came in the first inning. All eight MU runs in Game Two were scored in the first three innings. 

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Jenna Golembiewski (MVSmith/MRO file)

ACTION NOTES/GAME TWO: 
• Miami took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Leadoff hitter Shelby Kunkel's single to left center kicked off the fielder and rolled to the fence. Kunkel ended up on third and scored two batters later on a fly ball by Chloe Parks. 
• Ohio came back with two runs in the bottom half. Lauren Yuhas opened with a single She moved up twice - once on a fielders choice and again on a single by Breanna Farmer, who went 9-for-12 in the tournament. 
- Yuhas scored on a RedHawk infield error and one-out later Farmer came home when when a Miami steal/cutoff play went awry. 
• Ohio's only lead of the day didn't last long. Ella Carter opened the Miami second with a single and Jenna Golembiewski followed with a home run to left center. MU led 3-2.
• After Reeves retired Ohio in order, Miami's offense came back for more. Ten RedHawks came to the plate and Ohio went through three pitchers in the top of the third. 
- Kunkel started the rally with a double to left. Kaylee Oh walked and both players moved up on steals. When Parks singled in a run, Miami led 4-2, and Ohio replaced starter Anna Wise  (10-7) with Mikie Lievin.  
- Another run scored when Campbell bounced a single over third. Ella Carter then singled up the middle to score Parks. 
- After a force out, Holly Merritt shot a single to center for two more runs and an 8-2 Miami lead. It also led to another pitching change as Skipp Miller took over in the circle. She faced three batters, retiring two to end the inning. 
• Reeves gave up three hits over the next four innings, but Ohio could not score. The Bobcats best chance came in the bottom of the sixth. The bases were loaded with one out when Reeves struck out Abby Kennell. Shelby Westler's grounded out ended the threat.
• With a comfortable six-run cushion in the seventh, Reeves bore down, striking out the first two Bobcats. Keidel singled, bringing up the ever-dangerous Farmer. The count went 2-2 before Reeves got a high pitch by the sophomore to seal the verdict. 

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CHLOE PARKS

MORE NOTES:
• Reeves struck out seven and did not walk a batter in the final.  . 
• Parks was named MAC Tournament MVP.
• Parks recorded eight RBI's in the tournament. Merritt drove in seven. 
• Parks, Chevier and Oh were named to the MAC All-Tournament team. 
• This will be MU's fifth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.

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