Looking to defend their conference title, the Miami women’s softball team will begin Mid-American Conference (MAC) play this weekend against Kent State University.
The RedHawks had a bit of a rough start to the season, but they seem to be making a comeback, as they knocked off No. 8 Kentucky last week to extend their winning streak to three games.
Last year, they won the MAC championship, and they are hoping to come back and do it again.
The ’Hawks have a number of returning players from their championship team that earned all-conference honors. Sophomore Holly Blaska and junior Allie Cummins received first-team honors last season. Juniors Adriana Barlow, Brianna Pratt and Riley Coyne were all on second-team.
Senior Courtney Vierstra was selected as last year’s MAC pitcher of the year, while infielder Karli Spaid was the freshman player of the year. Coach Kirin Kumar was awarded coach of the year and is back for her second season at Miami.
In addition, the team has added a few first-years that have proven to be great assets. Chloe Parks has a .474 batting average so far this season, and Maggie Murphy has already clocked two home runs.
The two teams have had very comparable seasons; Miami with a record of 7-10, and Kent State with a record of 6-9. The Flashes return only two members of the team who earned all-MAC honors last season, one of them being pitcher Jessica LeBeau.
SCOUTING REPORT
The Game
Game time: 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m Saturday and 12:00 pm Sunday at Miami Softball Stadium
MIAMI REDHAWKS
Record: 7-10
Enjoy what you're reading?
Signup for our newsletter
PROJECTED LINEUP
Player (position, key stat)
Karlee Juarez (left fielder, 24 put-outs)
Karli Spaid (third baseman, .423 BA)
Allie Cummins (infielder, 5 home runs)
Adriana Barlow (shortstop, 23 put-outs)
Kate Kobayashi (center fielder, 11 RBIs)
Maggie Murphy (designated hitter, .294 BA)
Chloe Parks (second baseman, .474 BA)
Lily Wilmot (right fielder, 8 RBIs)
Holly Blaska (first baseman, 64 put-outs)
KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES
Record: 6-9
PROJECTED LINEUP
Player (position, key stat)
Sabrina Kerschner (infielder, 12 put-outs)
Brooklyn Whitt (outfielder, .300 BA)
Savannah Wing (utility, .355 BA )
Alexandria Whitmore (infielder, 24 put-outs)
Delaney Robeson (utility, 5 RBIs)
Brenna Brownfield (utility, .261 BA)
Madison Hershberger (outfielder, 1.000 fielding percentage)
Jalynn Young (catcher, 3 RBIs)
Jessica LeBeau (pitcher, 4 RBIs)
Read More
Women’s tennis travels to Toledo for MAC tournament
By Kethan Babu | 2 hours agoThe Miami RedHawks tennis team earned the third seed in the 2024 MAC tournament. They will face the Western Michigan Broncos in the first round.
RedHawks baseball is on the rise
By Lauren Schulze | 11 hours agoThe Miami RedHawks baseball team is on the upswing, winning their last 5 games to put themselves at sixth in the MAC. The storyline of this season has been the constant improvement of the team as the year has progressed.
‘To have great poets, there must be great audiences’: Whitmania draws crowd for second annual marathon reading
By Sam Norton and Taylor Stumbaugh | YesterdayWords never die. Especially words written by 19th-century poet Walt Whitman. Miami University’s Literature Program in the English Department proved this with a 12-hour continuous reading of Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass” on Wednesday, April 24.