Broermann among Redhawk placers

OXFORD — The Miami University track and field team hosted its final home meet of the year on Saturday, April 30. The Red and White brought home a total of 14 wins across the meet despite challenging weather conditions.

The Red and White hosted the RedHawk Invitational Saturday, winning 15 events. Action started strong with Zach McBride picking up the win in the men’s 5000m in 14:44.12. The Miami relays were dominant with the Red and Winning 3 of 4 and the men’s 4x400m set a new season best of 3:18.07. Two from the RedHawk distance squad set massive 21 second personal bests with Sarrah Starrett taking second in the women’s 5000m and Matt Bromley having his best 3000m Steeplechase earning second in 9:20.53.

Eaton High School graduate Taylor Broermann was among the participants for Miami. Broermann placed seventh in the 1500m run. She finished in a time of 4:50.02. MU teammate Kelsey Kohls took second in 4:42.42.

Broermann, a freshman, has competed in the 800m, 1500m and 3000m during her first season with the Redhawks. She has finished in the top 10 seven times this season and finished 11th twice. Her best finishes came at the Cedarville Collegiate Indoor Invite where she took first in the “mile” and third in the 3000m.

While at Eaton, Broermann lettered four times in both cross country and track and field as was part of two state qualifying cross country teams. She was a two-time individual state qualifier as well. She set a school record in the 3200m, won a district title in the 3200m in 2012.

She was a three-time first-team all-league and all-district pick and earned first-team all-region honors twice. She was named second-team all-state in cross country in 2014.

She earned Academic All-Ohio honors and graduated from high school as her class’ salutatorian. She is the daughter of Lisa and Mike Broermann.

Sports recaps from www.miamiredhawks.com

Tennis

HAMILTON — Miami University’s women’s tennis team saw its season conclude in disappointing fashion as it fell, 4-2, to Western Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference Championship semifinals Saturday afternoon at the Riverside Athletic Club. The RedHawks (12-10, 7-1 MAC) dropped the opening doubles point and were unable to hold off strong singles efforts from the Broncos (19-7, 6-2 MAC).

In doubles, Miami quickly struck first, as junior Andreea Badileanu and freshman Anzhelika Shapovalova topped Barbare Eristavi and Katja Fevralev, 6-3. WMU responded by taking first and third-flight matches with 7-5 scores, pulling ahead 1-0 as the match entered the singles portion.

Freshman Emily Struble concluded an outstanding rookie campaign with a 7-5, 6-2 victory at No. 5 over Meika Ashby, tying the match at one. Following a Bronco win at first-flight, Shapovalova knotted the match again with her 7-6 (7), 6-4 third-flight decision against Eristavi. Unfortunately for the RedHawks, the Broncos would seal their trip to the final with dramatic victories at No. 4 (6-1, 1-6, 7-5) and No. 6 (6-2, 7-6 (8)) positions.

Western Michigan advances to Sunday’s MAC Women’s Tennis Championship against Ball State, who completed a tremendous comeback to top Buffalo, 4-3, in the earlier semifinal match.

Softball

Miami (27-21, 12-7 MAC) dropped two out of three games to Akron over the weekend. The RedHawks came from behind in the sixth inning to tie their series opener against Akron on Friday, but ultimately dropped a 3-2 decision. Miami split a doubleheader with Akron to conclude its weekend series on Saturday. The RedHawks took the opener, 4-1. In a back-and-forth nightcap, the Zips ended up with an 8-7 victory.

Baseball

The RedHawks (21-22, 10-5 MAC) started their week on the road at No. 22 Kentucky. A quick start by the Wildcats helped them to slide past the RedHawks, 11-1. The game was called in the top of the eighth due to severe weather.

Miami remained on the road as they went to battle with Kent State on the weekend. A rough first few innings proved to be too much of a hill to climb as the Red & White fell, 10-3, in the series opener. On Saturday, the RedHawks were able to even up the series with a 5-2 win, behind a few clutch pitching performances and multi-hit efforts from five batters.

Sunday’s series finale saw Miami holding a 3-2 lead until a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth put the Golden Flashes up for good as they held on to beat the RedHawks, 4-3

By Deron Newman

For The Register-Herald