Story courtesy of Miami Athletic Communications
AKRON, Ohio – Miami University defeated Ohio in back-to-back games Saturday afternoon by scores of 6-0 and 8-2 to claim the RedHawks' fourth-straight MAC Tournament championship. Miami moves to 35-24 (20-7 MAC) and Ohio finishes the season 37-19 (18-8 MAC).
GAME 1
The RedHawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Ella Carter hit a two-run double to the left field fence. Shelby Kunkel and Chloe Parks scored.
In that same inning, Holly Merritt smashed a three-run home run over right field to also score Carter and Jenna Golembiewski, extending the RedHawk lead to 5-0.
Erin Pinter made it back-to-back homers with a shot over right-center field, upping the advantage to 6-0.
The remainder of the game went without a run being scored, earning the RedHawks a 6-0 win and forcing Game 11 of the tournament.
Danitza Hernandez went 2-for-3 at the plate.
Seven different RedHawks had hits, four had extra-base hits, and three had RBI. The RedHawks out-hit the Bobcats 8-5.
Léa Chevrier pitched the complete game to earn the win in the circle. She allowed just five hits and did not allow a single run to cross. She struck out two.
GAME 2
Parks hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the first to bring Kunkel home and take a 1-0 lead for the 'Hawks.
The Bobcats tied the game up 1-1 in the bottom of the first when a run scored on an error. They tacked on another run by stealing home in that same inning, taking the 2-1 lead.
Golembiewski took the lead right back in the top of the second with a two-run homer over left-center, also scoring Carter and making it a 3-2 game. Parks lined a single to left field in the top of the third to bring Kunkel home and up the lead to 4-2.
Mckenna Campbell followed that up with a RBI single that scored Oh. Carter then singled up the middle to score Parks, increasing the lead to 6-2.
Merritt brought two more home in that inning with a single up the middle. Golembiewski and Campbell scored to make it a 8-2 advantage.
The RedHawks held this lead through the end of the game to take the 8-2 win and claim the MAC Tournament championship.
Parks, Golembiewski, and Merritt each had two RBI. Kunkel went 3-for-4 at the plate. Carter went 2-for-4.
Six RedHawks scored runs and six had hits. Parks led the tournament in RBI with eight, while Merrit drove in a total of seven runs over three days.
Madilyn Reeves pitched the complete game on the bump. She struck out seven and allowed just one earned run. She did not give up any walks.
Kunkel, Oh, and Golembiewski each had a stolen base in the game. Parks was named MAC Tournament MVP.
Oh, Parks, and Chevrier were named to the MAC All-Tournament Team.
The RedHawks have earned an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive season. The selection show begins at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 11 on ESPN2.
2025 MAC Softball All-Tournament Team
Alexis Campbell, Akron
Maia Pietrzak, Ball State
McKayla Timmons, Ball State
Kaylee Oh, Miami
Lea Chevrier, Miami
Chloe Parks, Miami*
Alana Powell, Northern Illinois
Brenna Farmer, Ohio
Emma Hoffner, Ohio
Skipp Miller, Ohio
*2025 MAC Softball Tournament MVP
