Miami softball has mixed results in Nashville to start season

In a few close matchups, the Miami University softball team was not able to start its season off with a winning record.

The RedHawks traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to open its season this weekend and walked away with a 2-3 record.

Theteam opened up play on Friday against Bradley University.

After four innings, the ’Hawks were down 2-0, but they weren’t ready to give up. In the top of the fifth inning, they drove in seven runs to take a five run lead. Junior infielder Adriana Barlow led the inning with two RBIs.

Despite the rally, the Braves pulled away with an 8-7 victory.

The RedHawks dropped both matchups in a double-header on Saturday with games against Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and Tennessee State.

The team started out strong against IUPUI, scoring two runs in the first inning with another two-RBI single from Barlow sending sophomores Karli Spaid and Karlee Juarez across the plate.

The Jaguars tied the game at two during the third inning, but Spaid but up another run in the third. In the end, IUPUI scored three runs in the fourth and left the rest of the game scoreless, winning 5-3.

The second game began with a promising home run in the second inning from senior outfielder Lily Wilmot. The Tigers came out in the third inning and scored four consecutive runs to put them up 4-1.

The RedHawks scored one run in both the fourth and fifth innings, but were unable to catch up, allowing Tennessee State to take the win, 4-3.

Sunday was a much more successful day for Miami.

The first game against Bradley was scoreless through the third inning. In the fourth inning, Juarez sent sophomore outfielder Kate Kobayashi home, and Spaid hit a home run in the fifth.

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Junior Brianna Pratt pitched a shutout with 10 strikeouts - a career high - and allowed only two hits to lead the ’Hawks to a 2-0 victory.

Miami took on IUPUI for the second game of the day and scored at least one run in every inning except the first, including a one-run homer from senior Maclai Branson in the fourth.

The fifth inning was huge for the ’Hawks with 9 runs. Spaid had a 3-RBI triple and senior Zoe Bishop had a 2-RBI double.

Sophomore Taylor Turner pitched the whole game, allowing only one run in the fifth inning. The RedHawks ended the weekend with a 12-1 victory over the Jaguars.

Miami is now 2-3 to start the season. The team will travel to Columbia, South Carolina next weekend for a four-game series, starting with a matchup against Troy University on Friday.

@baileyalthauser

althaube@miamioh.edu