Miami softball falls to Northwestern in NCAA Regional final

The Wildcats, who trailed throughout, tied the game with a run in the sixth and took the lead with a run in the seventh.

Miami (39-20) loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn’t push across a run to extend the game. Northwestern is 41-11.

Holly Blaska went 3-for-4 with a home run to pace Miami. Blaska hit four home runs in the regional.

Needing to bat Northwestern twice on Sunday to advance, Miami took a 1-0 lead in the first on Karli Spaid’s 22nd home run of the season . The RedHawks made it 2-0 in the third when Riley Coyne drew a bases-loaded walk.

Northwestern tied the game with a two-run home run in the fourth and took a 3-2 lead with a run in the fifth.

Miami re-took the lead (4-3) in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run shot by Blaska.

The RedHawks were in the regional finals for the first time in school history.

After losing a first-round game to Kentucky on Friday, the Redhawks blanked Eastern Illinois (4-0) and pounded Kentucky (9-0 in five innings) to remain alive in the double-elimination tournament.

Blaska hit three home runs Saturday — one vs. Eastern Illinois and two vs. Kentucky, including a grand slam. She finished with five RBI against UK. Chloe Parks had a home run and three RBI.

Brianna Pratt picked up the win in both games for the reigning two-time, Mid-American Conference champs.