Strong pitching and timely hitting led the Miami softball team to its third and fourth wins Saturday afternoon, as the RedHawks defeated both Eastern Kentucky and Northern Kentucky universities at the Miami Softball Stadium.

In the first game of the Saturday doubleheader, Miami knocked off EKU, 6-2, before squeaking by NKU, 2-1.

In the first game, the RedHawks were led by sophomore pitcher Meredith Linch's six innings of shutout softball, giving up only three hits and walking three.

The RedHawks were also led offensively by sophomore Alicia Hogl's two hits and two RBIs.

Sophomore Shalise Lugo came in for the seventh inning and allowed two runs on four hits. Although it wasn't the outing Lugo wanted, she was able to hold on and help the RedHawks clench a win.

"It wasn't one of my best games, but I definitely battled through," Lugo said. "The biggest thing for me, for fall ball especially, was just to get through the game."

In the second game, Miami received another solid pitching performance, as Lugo, who closed out the first game, started the second, allowing just one run, while giving up four hits and walking two in her six innings of work.

Northern Kentucky got on the base for the first time when pitcher April Ehlers hit an RBI single to right field in the second inning.

Miami quickly retaliated with its first run in the next inning as sophomore Briana Burke attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but beat the throw to first and was called safe, as senior Halle Popson scored.

However, the biggest hit of the day came from senior Breanna Robinson. In the bottom of the fifth inning with the score tied at one, Robinson hit a single to drive in freshman Kathryn Russette, which put Miami in the lead 2-1.

The at-bat could not have come at a better time for Robinson. She had just talked with Assistant Coach Kellyn Tate about a particular issue she had been having in the batter's box.

"I was looking to improve my pitch selection, which I had just got done talking to Coach Tate about," Robinson said. "So my main focus was really picking out a good pitch and putting a good cut on it."

That would be the last run the 'Hawks would score despite having a good opportunity to tack on some insurance runs in the sixth inning. Hogl hit a blast in the right field gap that went for a triple, but was stranded at third and the Miami lead stayed at one.

Linch, who started game one, entered in the seventh inning and picked up a hectic save, allowing Northern Kentucky to load the bases before finally recording the last out.

Miami won all four of its home games this fall, and even though the fall ball season doesn't include any MAC games, it gives the team a chance to work out a little before the main season starts in February.

"I see the same intensity, if not more, because we are so eager to get out there," Robinson said.

The team also uses the fall season to find ways to improve on the previous season.

"The way we are coming out this year is different than last year," Lugo said. "We have a lot of young girls with a lot of experience, so we're gonna come out strong."

Last season, Miami softball finished with a record of 26-35. The team finished last season strong, winning 12 of their last 14 games before being eliminated in the first round of the MAC tournament by Northern Illinois University.

The softball team will conclude its fall schedule on the road in the Ohio State Breast Cancer Charity Classic Oct. 7. The team will begin its spring schedule Feb. 15 in the Florida Atlantic Tournament.