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‘Hawks drop 3 of 4

Photo by Ian Marker

By Jordan Rinard, Senior Staff Writer

Though the Miami University softball team dropped three of four games this weekend, the RedHawks remain second in the Mid-American Conference East standings.

Miami (24-19, 8-6 MAC) lost 2-1 in the first game of their doubleheader with Northern Illinois University, but bounced back with a 4-3 win. Western Michigan University swept the 'Hawks1-0 and 2-1 Saturday.

"Our pitching was great and our defense was solid, but we have highs and lows with our hitting," head coach Clarisa Crowell said. "We need to get out of this slump. We have a good offense; we're just missing some timely hits and we're not outscoring the other team. Kelsey Fredericks [sophomore pitcher] was great, Remy [Edwards, senior third baseman/pitcher] was great, Amber's [Logemann, junior pitcher] pitching a lot of innings, but we have to pick it up offensively. We need to bounce back on Tuesday against Butler and build some momentum for the weekend."

Miami struck first in the opening game against Northern Illinois (22-18, 6-4 MAC) when senior outfielder Tiyona Marshall scored off of a Huskie throwing error. The score stayed at 1-0 until the top of the seventh when NIU hit a home run and an RBI. The 'Hawks managed to place a runner in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the inning, but a groundout and a flyout ended the comeback bid.

MU totaled eight hits on the day but were unable to string them together, leaving 10 runners on base. Marshall went 2-4, while Edwards went 2-2 on the day.

Logemann had a strong outing despite the late runs, allowing two hits and striking out seven in a complete game effort.

The Huskies got on the board first in the second game with a RBI in the fourth. The Red and White answered in the following inning with RBIs from junior outfielder Taylor Shuey and senior first baseman Shanyn McIntyre. NIU took back the lead with a RBI in the sixth and a homer in the seventh.

McIntyre delivered the final blow to Northern Illinois with a walk-off two-run double to take the game.

Western Michigan's RBI in the first was the only run in Saturday's first game. The RedHawks notched six hits, but left nine on base. Marshall went 2-3 with a walk, while senior outfielder Bree Lipscomb went 2-3.

Logemann gave the team a chance in the complete game effort with four hits allowed.

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The Broncos (17-19, 8-4 MAC) drew first blood in the second game with a RBI in the fourth before Lipscomb homered in the fifth to tie it up at 1-1. WMU took back the lead in the seventh off of a throwing error.

Miami had five hits in the game and none during the last two innings.

The pitching staff as a whole allowed one earned run. Logemann, Edwards, and Fredericks each worked two or more innings. They combined for eight strikeouts and six hits allowed as Logemann picked up her 20th win in relief.

"It's been a tough weekend," McIntyre said. "Hitting comes and goes, and this weekend it went. Our pitching and defense was good but we have to find ways to score. Our defense was there and our pitching came through for us and we're getting good at-bats. We just have to keep going."

The RedHawks host a doubleheader against Butler University 5 p.m. Tuesday.