Marshall breaks season record in midweek split

By Jordan Rinard, Senior staff writer

Tiyona Marshall led the Miami University softball team to victory in the first game of a doubleheader against Northern Kentucky University Tuesday. The senior outfielder went 3-3 with a triple, three RBIs and three runs scored.

Marshall's game totals set a program record for most hits in a season (80), which passes Halle Popson's total of 79 set in 2007.

"Tiyona Marshall is now the season record holder for hits in a season so I'm really proud of her," head coach Clarisa Crowell said.

The RedHawks (30-21, 12-6 MAC) took the first game 9-2 and fell in the second game 5-3.

"We scored more runs in the first game, and our pitching and our defense played well," Crowell said. "We came up short in the second game; pitching allowed some big hits. We were able to get good at-bats but we couldn't get timely hits."

Miami got rolling early in the first game with a RBI-single from senior first baseman Shanyn McIntyre in the first inning. Northern Kentucky did not answer until they trailed 6-0 after 3.1 innings.

Senior third baseman/pitcher Remy Edwards went 3-4 with a double and three runs scored.

In her 25th win of the season, junior pitcher Amber Logemann gave up an earned run on five hits and struck out eight in five innings. Senior closer Megan Mattera allowed one hit over the final two innings.

The 'Hawks jumped out to an early lead in the second game as sophomore second baseman Eryn McCarver, junior outfielder Taylor Shuey and Mattera each scored runners in the first. However, the Norse took the lead in the third with a three-run home run and a solo shot.

The Red and White recorded 11 hits in the game, but did not generate any more runs.

McIntyre went 3-4, while Mattera went 2-4 with a double. Shuey had two hits, an RBI and a run scored. Edwards, Mattera and sophomore Kelsey Fredericks all saw time on the mound, and each gave up at least one earned run.

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"We were hitting well but we couldn't get the runs, which was unfortunate," Mattera said. "We're moving on from today and on to Ball State. Me and Amber were able to shut them down for the most part in the first game, but they got big hits in the second game, and the Miami offense didn't string together hits. Our pitching will be there this weekend and we're hitting great. We'll be fine. We've been hitting the ball hard, which is what we need to do. We need to make them fall and score more runs. Ball State will be a good matchup for us this weekend."

In a matchup of potentially two of the top three seeds in the MAC Tournament, the RedHawks host Ball State University in their home finale this weekend. First pitch is 2 p.m. Saturday, and Sunday's game begins at 1 p.m. A sweep gives Miami the No. 2 seed.

The Cardinals (28-22, 13-4 MAC) have the second-best record in the conference and head into the weekend on a three-game win streak.

The team's .308 batting average is the best in the MAC. Junior second baseman Emily Dabkowski tops the league with 14 home runs and 47 RBIs. The pitching staff has struggled with an ERA of 4.47 and an opponent batting average of .306.

"The girls have done a good job all season of being resilient, of bouncing back," Crowell said. "We need to put everything together this weekend. Ball State has been regular season MAC champs the last four years, so we're going to get their best game. The girls are going to get a day off Wednesday - they haven't had a day off in a week or so - and we're going to get back to work Thursday."