Central Michigan softball traveled to Oxford, Ohio on Saturday as it sat in the top position of the Mid-American Conference with Miami (Ohio) not far behind, holding the second spot in the standings.

CMU (27-22,17-9) was unable to hold the top spot as it was swept by the Redhawks (4-2, 8-0, 7-2) over the weekend series, moving the Chippewas to third place in the standings and giving Miami (32-17, 19-7) the top spot.

This is the first time the Chippewas have lost a MAC series since the first series of the season against Ball State as CMU came into the three-game stretch against Miami winning the last seven series.

The Chippewas struggled at the plate, going 14-for-70 (.200) over the weekend. On the other side, the Redhawks had 27 hits with seven home runs in the series.

Sophomore designated hitter Allyssa Hollo was a bright spot in the CMU lineup, going 5-for-8 in the series with a home run, securing one RBI and one run.

Game 1

After getting out to an early lead to open the first game of the series, the Chippewas were unable to hold on as Miami (Ohio) responded late in the game to gain a 1-0 lead in the series.

CMU started off hot in the top of the first following back-to-back hits from junior center fielder Abbey Tolmie and junior right fielder Michaleigh Vallimont. Senior left fielder Kelsey Alexander kept the momentum going when she hit a 2-RBI single to center field to give the Chippewas a 2-0 lead.

The Redhawks responded in the bottom of the third when Banks hit a triple to put herself in scoring position. Two at-bats later, she was batted in following a ground out to second that put Miami within one.

In the next inning, the Redhawks continued their momentum from the previous frame when catcher Riley Coyne homered to center field to tie the matchup at two.

Following a scoreless fifth inning for both teams, Miami took the lead for the first time in the game in the bottom of the sixth when Redhawks’ Kate Kobayashi hit a 2-RBI double to put them ahead 4-2.

In the top of the seventh, the Chippewas were unable to respond giving the Redhawks the series opener win.

Junior pitcher Grace Lehto registered the loss in the circle to move to 13-11. In six innings pitched, Lehto gave up four runs on six hits, had six strikeouts and two walks.

Alexander led at the plate, going 2-for-3 while driving in the Chippewas only two runs that crossed home plate in the loss.

Game 2

Coming off of the loss in game one of the double-header, CMU couldn’t respond in game two as Miami defeated the Chippewas in five innings with a score of 8-0.

In the loss, CMU was shutout for the first time since its loss to Michigan State back on March 21.

The Redhawks struck first with three home runs in the top of the first inning to give them the 4-0 lead.

Jenna Golembiewski delivered for Miami in the bottom of the second when she hit a 2-RBI double to left center to extend the lead to six.

Following a 1-2-3 inning for the Chippewas in the top of the fifth, the Redhawks were able to finish off the game in the bottom of the inning following a 2-RBI walk off single that put them up 8-0 to secure them the series.

CMU senior Kaitlyn Bean got the loss in the circle, pitching only the first inning and giving up four runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Coming in for relief for Bean in the second inning was sophomore Madelyn Wallace who gave up four runs on seven hits and four walks.

Sophomore Allyssa Hollo was the only Chippewa to register a hit in the game, going 2-for-2 with two singles.

Game 3

CMU came into the second day of the series looking to avoid the sweep, however, three home runs from Miami aided it to complete the 6-1 win and complete the sweep.

The Chippewas took the early lead in game three when Vallimont hit a solo shot to left field to tally her sixth home run of the year and give CMU the 1-0 lead.

However, the lead didn’t last long as the Redhawks’ Allie Cummins led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run to right field to even the game at one.

Miami added one more run in the bottom of the second following an RBI single from Maddi Banks to give the Redhawks the 2-1 lead.

The Redhawks continued the momentum into the bottom of the third when Golembiewski hit a two-run home run to extend the lead to three and give Miami its second home run of the day.

Golembiewski hit a double in the bottom of the fifth to give her four RBIs in the game and give the Redhawks the 6-1 lead.

The Chippewas were not done yet as they added one more run in the top of the sixth when Hollo delivered with a solo home run to left field to cut the deficit to four, 6-2.

However, the Redhawks put the deficit back up to five in the bottom half of the inning when Kobayashi responded with a home run of her own to put the score at 7-2.

The Chippewas failed to come back in the seventh following a double play to lead to Miami’s sweep over CMU.

Lehto got the loss in the circle, pitching six innings and giving up six runs on 10 hits with five strikeouts.

The Chippewas will be back on the road for a non-conference matchup against Notre Dame on Tuesday, starting at 5 p.m.