Saturday’s Softball Results
Akron 5, Central Michigan 4
Akron 9, Central Michigan 5
Ball State 15, Buffalo 7
UMass 10, Ohio 4
Miami 5, Bowling Green 0
Miami 3, Bowling Green 2
Northern Illinois 11, Toledo 5
Toledo 7, Northern Illinois 6
Western Michigan 12, Kent State 4
Western Michigan 11, Kent State 1
Recaps courtesy of MAC Athletic Communications Departments
Akron 5, Central Michigan 4 | Box Score
Akron 9, Central Michigan 5 | Box Score
AKRON, Ohio - For the first time since 1998, the Akron Zips softball team claimed the Mid-American Conference regular season title with a pair of victories over Central Michigan on Saturday.
The Zips took the first game 5-4 on a walk-off double from Sophia Wygast, while Wygast, Sydney Selker and Delaney Jenkinson all hit home runs in a 9-5 win in game two.
Akron will be the No. 1 seed in the MAC Championship and will receive a bye in the first round. Action will begin on May 6 and go through May 9 at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio.
GAME 1 | Akron 5, Central Michigan 4
AKRON, Ohio -The Akron Zips rallied to score two in the seventh inning and walked it off on Sophia Wygast's two-run double to pick up the 5-4 victory over the Central Michigan Chippewas Saturday.
Meagan Lee and Lily Sullivan both recorded multiple hits against CMU. Lee went 2-for-4 with a run, while Sullivan went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs. Sophia Wygast went 1-for-4 with a walk-off double that plated two runs.
Madie Jamrog (15-6) got the win for Akron (30-22, 20-5). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up four runs, three earned, on six hits, allowing one walk and striking out seven.
The Zips put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the second inning. Lily Sullivan put Akron on the board with a leadoff home run.
The Chippewas failed to push any runs across before the Zips offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Akron picked up a run on Haley Glass' leadoff home run, which brought the Zips' lead to 2-0.
Akron's lead had evaporated once the sixth inning arrived and turned into a 4-2 Central Michigan advantage, when the Zips cut that deficit to 4-3.
Akron kept its deficit in check, holding Central Michigan scoreless before scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh to claim victory, walking it off.
GAME 2 | Akron 9, Central Michigan 5
Sydney Selker put together a brilliant showing at the plate Saturday, hitting two home runs to help power the Akron Zips over the Central Michigan Chippewas 9-5.
Selker went 2-for-3 at the plate, supplementing her two home runs with three RBIs. Sophia Wygast added to Selker's awesome power-hitting performance by going 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. Katie Cantrell also chipped in for the Zips, going 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI.
Macy Walters (14-10) got the win for Akron (31-22, 21-5). The right-hander went six innings, giving up five runs, all of them earned, on six hits, allowing eight walks and striking out two.
The Zips were trailing 3-0 in the first inning when they first put runs on the board. Akron's offense started clicking and put up five runs, including a two-run home run off the bat of Selker and a two-run triple from Cantrell.
The Chippewas failed to push any runs across before the Zips built on their lead in the fourth inning. Akron scored three times, with an output that included home runs from both Delaney Jenkinson and Wygast, which brought the Zips' lead to 8-3.
Central Michigan narrowed Akron's lead to 8-4 before the Zips stretched the advantage to 9-4 in the fifth inning. Central Michigan put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Akron still coasted to the 9-5 win.
Akron will be back on the diamond for game three of the series against Central Michigan and Senior Day on Sunday, May 3 at 1 p.m.
Ball State 15, Buffalo 7
Box Score
BUFFALO, N.Y. - - The Ball State softball team closed the 2026 season with its sixth straight victory, completing a weekend sweep at Buffalo with a 15-7 (5) victory at Nan Harvey Field.
In completing its second consecutive Mid-American Conference weekend series sweep, the Cardinals closed the year with a 23-25 overall record and a 10-17 league ledger.
Ball State redshirt junior center fielder Grace Spencer set the tone in Saturday's finale versus the Bulls (24-32; 10-17 MAC) by leading off the game with her third home run of the season. It was the first of six runs in the first inning for the visitors.
The second run came on a sac fly from redshirt sophomore catcher Allee Noble. Senior left fielder Ashlee Lovett and redshirt sophomore shortstop Meagan Ramos followed with back-to-back RBI singles, helping set up a two-run double from senior right fielder Hayley Urban.
While Buffalo countered with two runs in the bottom of the frame, the Cardinals continued their offensive barrage in the second with three more runs. The first came off a triple to center field from senior first baseman Lindsey DeRoeck, who in turn scored on a single up the middle from redshirt junior third baseman Skylinn Pogue.
Pogue scored Ball State's final run of the inning on a wild pitch, pushing the score to 9-2.
Buffalo would once again cut into the Cardinals' lead in the bottom of the second, this time posting five runs to draw within two.
After a scoreless third inning, Ramos sparked a six-run fourth for Ball State by leading off the frame with her first collegiate home run. With runners at second and third after a walk and an error, Urban scored the second run of the inning on a wild pitch.
Senior designated player / pitcher Ella Whitney was next to get into the action with an RBI single to center field, making the score 12-7. DeRoeck followed with an RBI single of her own, and then was the trail runner on a double steal which saw redshirt sophomore pinch runner Payton Fox swipe home. DeRoeck eventually moved to third on a fly out, before scoring the game's final run on a wild pitch.
In the circle, Whitney earned her first save of the season by limiting the Bulls to one hit over the final 3.0 innings. She also logged one strikeout in the game. Friday's pitching hero senior Bridie Murphy threw the first inning, while junior Brinkley Kita was designated the game's winning pitcher after throwing the second.
UMass 10, Ohio 4
Box Score
AMHERST, Mass. — The University of Massachusetts softball team (19-30, 10-17 MAC) won its final game of the season against Ohio University (35-18, 17-10 MAC), 10-4. Celebrating their five seniors prior to the game, the Minutewomen offense exploded, with seniors Riain Keefe, Olivia Packard and Angie Rama leading the way.
The trio of Keefe, Rama and Packard each had two hits, with Packard hitting her first home run of the season. Lily Woodworth and Tiegan Walsh also added two hits each, with Walsh adding a team-high three RBI's.
The Minutewomen offense ended the season strong, totaling their third most hits in a game this season (12) and third time scoring 10 runs or more. It marks the second straight game with double-digit hits for UMass.
Massachusetts opened the game hot, getting on the board in the bottom of the opening inning. Keefe knocked in her first hit of the afternoon with a sharply hit single to right field. A Brooke Musch walk and Odyssey Torres sacrifice bunt put two runners in scoring position, and a Colucci walk in the following at bat loaded the bases with one out. Walsh roped a one-out single to centerfield, scoring two and giving UMass an early 2-0 lead.
Ohio struck back in the top of the second inning, plating one on a pair of singles to cut the lead to 2-1.
In the bottom of the second, Packard led off with a line drive home run to center field, setting the tone for the inning. Rama and Keefe recorded consecutive hits to put two runners in scoring position. A wild pitch plated one, and Musch walked again to put runners on the corners with no outs. Torres singled to score another, extending the UMass lead to 5-1.
In the bottom of the third, UMass continued to pour it on, scoring four more runs. Colucci singled with the bases loaded to score two runs, and Woolworth and Walsh followed with consecutive singles to plate an additional two runners, giving UMass a 9-1 advantage.
Ohio hit two solo home runs in the top of the fourth inning to cut into the Minutewomen lead to 9-3.
In the top of the sixth, the Bobcats plated one on back to back hits to bring the score to 9-4.
The Minutewomen added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, as with runners in scoring position, Katharine Heslin hit a sacrifice fly to open a 10-4 lead, one that the Minutewomen did not relinquish.
Hannah Streicher (11-15) earned the win for the Minutewomen, allowing four runs on nine hits, one walk and three strikeouts in 7.0 innings. Ally Meyers was handed the loss for Ohio, allowing three runs on three hits and one walk in 1.0 innings. Skipp Miller entered in relief, allowing seven runs on nine hits, five walks, three strikeouts and two wild pitches.
Miami 5, Bowling Green 0 | Box Score
Miami 3, Bowling Green 2 | Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University softball team (38-16, 19-8 MAC) closed out its regular season with a series sweep against Bowling Green State University (20-29, 6-20 MAC). The RedHawks won the first game in a 5-0 shutout and the second 3-2.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
The RedHawks kicked things off in the first with an RBI double from Danitza Hernandez, and then a groundout from Mckenna Campbell that brought Mia Estrello in for one more. The Red and White led by two going into the second.
Miami extended its lead to 3-0 in the second with a home run from Ella Carter.
Evey Dieudonne hit an RBI double in the third to add to the RedHawks' lead, 4-0.
In the sixth, the Red and White added a fifth run with another sacrifice fly hit by Hernandez.
The RedHawks' defense held up to secure a 5-0 shutout win.
Mia Estrello went 1-for-2 at the plate, breaking the record for hits in a rookie season with 63 hits. Danitza Hernandez produced the 100th hit of her career.
Presley Hosick pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing only five hits. Bailey Manos went 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs. Ella Carter went 1-for-1 at the plate, with a home run.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
Miami started the scoring, going up by two in the fourth after a fielder's choice hit by Campbell that brought Estrello home and a sacrifice fly by Dieudonne.
BGSU got on the board to make it 2-1 in the top of the sixth with an RBI single. The RedHawks responded in the bottom of the same inning with an RBI double from Carter.
BGSU added another run in the seventh with an RBI single. Miami held strong and earned the 3-2 win.
Léa Chevrier set a career high in strikeouts with seven. She also pitched a complete game, allowing only one earned run.
Mia Estrello went 2-for-3 at the plate with one run.
The RedHawks are heading to the MAC Tournament in Akron, Ohio. Stay tuned to MiamiRedHawks.com for updates.
Northern Illinois 11, Toledo 5 | Box Score
Toledo 7, Northern Illinois 6 | Box Score
DeKALB, Ill.—Splitting action on senior day, the Northern Illinois University softball team competed against the University of Toledo in a doubleheader. The Huskies (25-16, 18-7 MAC) took the opening game 11-5 before falling to the Rockets (15-35, 11-16 MAC) 7-6 in nine innings.
NIU has won seventh of their conference series this season and recorded the most wins in conference play since the 2000 season.
In the second game, Alana Powell (Chicago, Ill./Kenwood Academy) tied the NIU single-game record for doubles, hitting three while going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate. Powell also scored three runs for the Huskies
Lia Nance (Oceanside, Calif/Oceanside) went 3-of-4 at the plate, scored twice, and drove in two runs for the Huskies. She was one of six Huskies to have a multi-hit game in the first game.
Game One Recap (NIU 11, Toledo 5)
Toledo struck first in the first inning with back-to-back singles before Lily Cassell (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone) collected two strikeouts to end the frame.
The Huskies answered in the bottom of the first with back-to-back singles before Kayla Estrada (Riverside, Calif./Martin Luther King) hit her seventh home run of the season to drive in all three runs. Rylie Hartman (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher) reached on a Rockets error and later scored on a single to center by Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township).
The Rockets responded in the second inning with a solo home run and added another run on a sacrifice fly to trim NIU's lead to two.
Nance and Jenna Turner (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) opened the bottom of the second with back-to-back singles before scoring on Danielle Stewart's (Frankfort, Ill./Metamora Township) double to left. NIU added one more hit in the inning but left the bases loaded.
Toledo added single runs in the third and fourth innings, recording one hit in each frame.
Mia Morera (Simi Valley, Calif./Westlake) drew a walk to start the bottom of the third and scored on Nance's triple to right. A sacrifice fly brought Nance home as NIU extended its lead to 8–3.
Powell led off the fourth inning with a double and scored on Nance's RBI single. Morera later scored NIU's tenth run as the Huskies collected three hits in the inning.
A sacrifice fly produced Toledo's final run in the fifth inning as they left one runner on base.
Ramage opened the bottom of the sixth with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Cara Cruthers (Barlett, Ill./South Elgin), closing out the scoring.
The Rockets picked up a 7-6 win in nine innings in the nightcap after falling in game one, 11-5.
In the victory, Jenna Bloomfield went a perfect 4-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the offense. Samantha Bolding crushed her 13th home run of the season with a two-run shot in game two. Bolding tied her season high for home runs in a season and her 26 career homers is tied for second in program history.
Junior Katie McDonald (11-11) picked up the win in the circle, while redshirt freshman Reese Poston also appeared in relief.
Northern Illinois scored on an error for the game's first run.
Toledo took a 3-1 lead with a pair of hits from Jenna Bloomfield and Aubrey Hensley and a sac fly from Alexis Shepherd.
The Huskies responded took a 5-3 lead on a home run and a base-loaded walk.
Samantha Bolding's two-run homer tied the game in the fifth, 5-5.
Bloomfield's RBI single from put UT back in front in the top of the seventh, 6-5. NIU used its own RBI single to even the game, 6-6, and force extra innings.
A sac fly from Audrey Miller in the ninth provided the Rockets the victory.
Western Michigan 12, Kent State 4 | Box Score
Western Michigan 11, Kent State 1 | Box Score
Recap coming soon…
