’Hawks go 3-1 to take weekend series at Bowling Green

The Miami RedHawks softball team travelled to Bowling Green State University this weekend for a four-game series against the Bowling Green Falcons.

On Friday night, the teams had a pretty even match-up.

Miami had one hit in the first, third, and fourth innings, but was unable to get anyone home. Senior pitcher Courtney Vierstra had a no-hitter up until the fifth inning.

The only run of the game came in the seventh inning. Junior infielder Allie Cummins hit a single to send senior Taylor Rathe home, who was pinch running for freshman right fielder Karlee Juarez.

The Falcons led the bottom of the seventh with a single, but Vierstra managed to get the save and the win, 1-0.

On Saturday, the RedHawks started off strong. Freshman second baseman Karli Spaid started off the first inning with a home run. Miami followed up with five more runs before the end of the inning, including a two-run single from junior catcher Riley Coyne.

The Falcons followed up with two runs in the bottom of the first, making the score 6-2.

The next score came in the fifth inning when senior outfielder Morgan Lott hit senior Jada Dotson home. Juarez hit Lott home and Cummins hit a three-run homer to finish out the scoring for the inning.

Bowling Green got four runs in the fifth inning and three runs in the sixth inning with two home runs. Miami closed the deal with another home run from Cummins and an RBI from senior third baseman Mackenzie Moore to make the score 14-9.

Spaid and Cummins both broke Miami’s record for homeruns in a single-season. The previous record was 11, and they both now have 12.

The second game of the day was a pitcher’s duel. Juarez scored the only run of the game for Miami with a homerun in the third inning.

With the score tied at one, the Falcons had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. After a leadoff double, redshirt freshman Greta L’esperance hit a single up the middle to bring home the winning run.

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The Falcons took the game, 2-1.

The RedHawks came back ready for revenge on Sunday, scoring 7 runs in the first inning.

Coyne doubled to send freshman first baseman Holly Blaska home in the second inning, and Dotson hit a home run in the fifth inning to secure the RedHawks 9-0 mercy rule victory.

Vierstra pitched a perfect game, allowing none of the 15 Falcon batters to reach base.

The RedHawks are now 26-2 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). They will continue their season on Tuesday with a double-header in Athens against the Ohio Bobcats.

@baileyalthauser

althaube@miamioh.edu