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Pratt hurls no-hitter and Cummins homers three times as RedHawks dominate in home opener

<p>Graduate student outfielder Allie Cummins prepares to circle the bases after one of her three home runs on the night.</p>

Graduate student outfielder Allie Cummins prepares to circle the bases after one of her three home runs on the night.

Graduate student Allie Cummins homered three times and graduate student pitcher Brianna Pratt threw a no-hitter as the RedHawks (3-2) defeated the Mastodons of Purdue Fort Wayne (0-6) 12-0 at Miami Softball Stadium.

The game served as an impromptu home-opener for Miami, as the game was added to the schedule only the day before. Despite the suddenness of the game, several spectators were on hand to watch the RedHawks. 

Miami started red hot on Wednesday, with back to back homers by junior third baseman Karli Spaid and graduate student right fielder Allie Cummins in the top of the first. An RBI single for senior first baseman Holly Blaska made it 3-0.

The Mastodons were able to get a hit in the top of the second, but that would be all. The bottom of the second featured a sac fly from Spaid, bringing in senior left fielder Maddi Banks to make it 4-0. Cummins then put a dent in the scoreboard with her second homer of the night, making the score 5-0 RedHawks.

Miami couldn’t get anything going in the third inning, but the fourth saw the RedHawks strike paydirt. 

Karli Spaid once again had success at the plate, hitting an RBI double that brought in two runners, making it a 7-0 ball game. Cummins then crushed her third ball of the night, her third homer in three at bats, to give the RedHawks a 9-0 lead. A bases loaded, RBI double courtesy of junior Logan Mueller brought in two runners, and freshman Reagan Bartholomew scored on a passed ball to make it 12-0.

Pratt, who had five strikeouts in the game, ended things quickly in the top of the fifth, ending the game with a mercy rule score of 12-0.

After her big day, Cummins was focused on the team rather than her own numbers. 

“Tonight showed us what we’re really made of,” Cummins said. “We showed tonight how good we are when we string hits together and play good defense.”

Head coach Kirin Kumar, after an up and down weekend in Charlotte, saw improvement from her team at the plate during the win.

“The bats are back,” Kumar said. “This past weekend we struggled but today found it and had good at bats.”

The RedHawks continue their season at the Murray State Tournament in Murray, KY, on the weekend of Feb. 24. 

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