AKRON, Ohio -- Miami scored three times in the bottom of the first and built a 5-0 lead by the fourth inning enroute to a 7-2 victory over Ohio in the opening round of the Mid-American Conference Softball Tournament.

Miami (23-24-1) took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, scoring its three runs on four hits. Bianca Paz plated the first RedHawk run when she singled to center field, scoring Jackie Poggendorf from second. Jacque Molinaro added the second and third runs of the frame when she singled with the bases loaded to score Kristin Hays and Bianca Paz

Ohio (20-30) looked to add a run in the top of the second when senior Georgia Villard (Canton) hit a ball with runners on first and second that was misplayed by the center fielder. Freshman Nikki Brooks (Chillicothe) tried to score on the play, but Miami recovered and caught Brooks at the plate for the second out. Freshman Kelly Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) struck out to end the inning.

The RedHawks added their fourth run of the contest in the bottom half of the inning as Poggendorf singled up the middle to score Allison Maxey

The Bobcats threatened again in the fourth with runners on second and third and one out when sophomore Emily Futscher (Cincinnati) grounded the ball to the third baseman, who turned and fired the ball to home to get senior Erin Chapman (Beavercreek) at the plate. Villard popped out to the shortstop to end the inning.

Maxey made it a 5-0 Miami lead when she hit a solo homerun to left field to begin the bottom of the fourth inning.

Ohio got on the board in the fifth, scoring two runs on one hit and two errors. The Bobcats scored their first run of the inning when Chapman hit a ground ball to the pitcher. Miami came home and got senior Kiersten Scrima (Olympia, Wash.) on the force at home. The RedHawks then tried to get Chapman at first for the double play, but catcher Becky Garcia threw the ball past the first baseman, allowing senior Sarah Melvin (Loveland) to score. Sophomore Robin Miller (Chagrin Falls) added the second Ohio run when she singled to the shortstop, scoring junior Jennifer Tisevich (Canton).

Miami scored the last two runs of the game, scoring once in both the fifth and sixth innings Molinaro drove her third run of the game in the fifth, singling home Garcia to extend the Miami lead back to four at 6-2. Garcia plated the final run when she singled to center field, scoring Paz

Junior Kerri Harley (Hickory Hills, Ill.) got the start and went two-thirds of an inning, allowing three runs on three hits. Sophomore Candy Warden (Fredrick, Md.) came on in relief of Harley and went 2.1 innings, surrendering two runs on two hits. Freshman Natalie Armstrong (Murrysville, Pa.) went the rest of the way, giving up two runs on six hits. She struck out three.

Ohio will next play Kent State on Friday. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.