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MU prepares for Austin Peay

By Jordan Rinard, Senior Staff Writer

After leaving opening weekend with a winning record, the Miami University softball team now turns its attention to a road doubleheader against Austin Peay University. The RedHawks (3-2) split their games against the Governors (1-4) last season and had the doubleheader moved to Friday due to weather.

"We had to alter our practice plans a bit because of the schedule change and now we really have just two days of practice," head coach Clarisa Crowell. "We still need to focus on us and what we need to do on offense and defense. We need to play with great fundamentals and energy and compete."

The offense for Miami was productive over last weekend and hopes to continue its pace against Austin Peay. Senior center fielder Tiyona Marshall, junior right fielder Taylor Shuey and junior outfielder Tanya Busby all have hit over .400 so far this season. Shuey and senior left fielder Bree Lipscomb are tied for the team lead in RBIs with three. The team was also efficient in getting players over as it went eight for eight in stealing bases.

The defense has some room for improvement as it committed six fielding errors over the weekend, while its opponents committed four.

Junior pitcher Amber Logemann put together some good outings, despite having mono recently, with a 2.86 ERA, two wins and 10 strikeouts. Senior pitcher/utility player Remy Edwards saw her first action as a pitcher in her college career and did not disappoint as she picked up her first win against Syracuse University, registered a team-high 11 strikeouts and held batters to a .275 batting average, the lowest on the pitching staff.

"[This weekend] we need to execute and come up with some key plays," senior pitcher Megan Mattera, who picked up a save last weekend, said. "Defensively, we need to look the ball all the way into the glove and just execute. We need to take it one game at a time, especially in a doubleheader, and focus on what's happening around us. They'll be good games and a good fight between both teams, but we expect to come out on top."

Junior pitcher Natalie Ayala has struggled mightily this season, surrendering 38 hits and 15 earned runs in three starts.

"If we play at our level, these are winnable games," Crowell said. "They're a good team and they're well coached. They'll be aggressive in the box and we'll have to make good pitches. We respect them; the stats don't really tell the story."

The RedHawks square off in the doubleheader against Austin Peay starting at 1 p.m. Friday.

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