Story courtesy of Miami Sports Information

EVANSTON, Ill. – The Miami University softball team fought hard in its first-ever regional final Sunday evening, but ultimately fell to Northwestern University 5-4. This gives the RedHawks a final record of 39-20 on the season. The Wildcats move to 41-11.

Karli Spaid put the first run on the board in RedHawk fashion, taking a pitch deep over center to give Miami a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the third, Riley Coyne drew a walk with the bases loaded so that Maddi Banks scored to double the RedHawks' lead to 2-0.

In the top of the fourth, the Wildcats tied it up 2-2 on a two-run homer.

In the top of the fifth, Northwestern took the lead on an RBI single to make it a 3-2 game. Miami took the lead right back 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run home run from Holly Blaska that also scored Allie Cummins.

The Wildcats tied the game 4-4 in the top of the sixth on a sac groundout.

NU then took the 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh on an RBI double. Miami loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning but couldn't push a run across, giving Northwestern the 5-4 win.

Blaska went 3-for-4 at the plate with her fourth homer of the weekend and 11th of the season. Spaid hit her 22nd homer of the year.

Brianna Pratt grabbed four strikeouts and allowed only two extra base hits.