In just three years at the helm of Miami University softball, head coach Kirin Kumar has led the RedHawks to three Mid-American Conference (MAC) championships, and three NCAA tournament appearances.
Following a season in which the RedHawks advanced to their first regional final in school history, Kumar is looking forward to seeing her 2024 squad accomplish something no other team in Miami’s history has: advance to the Super Regionals.
“We have the capability to go farther than we ever have,” Kumar said. “We talk about it all the time. What can we do that Miami has never done before. Every year we have done that, and last year they got a taste of it, and we were so close.”
After posting a 39-20 regular record Miami’s 2023 season ended in the NCAA regional final to host Northwestern. The RedHawks enter the 2024 season as preseason favorites to win the MAC regular season, with rival Ohio University not far behind.
Returning Talent
The RedHawks return a bounty of talent led by outfielder Jenna Golembiewski and infielder Kari Spaid.
Golembiewski launched 17 home runs with a batting average of .306 during her sophomore season. She also drove in 36 runs on her way to being named the MAC Player of the Year and first team All-MAC. Golembiweski knows what it will take to build off her successful 2023 sophomore season.
“Just putting in my hard work and never letting off the gas,” said Golembiewski. “Even if I do have a good weekend, I try not to slack off, and just stay consistent with everything that I need to do.”
Spaid also returns to the RedHawk lineup for her senior year. Spaid leads Miami all-time in career home runs with 67 and a .391 average at the plate. She also leads the program in runs scored with 177 coming into the 2024 season, as well as 180 RBIs. Spaid was named first team All-MAC, went on to win the MAC Tournament MVP and earned a spot on the MAC All-Tournament team.
Kate Kobayashi is back for her third season at Miami and fifth overall after transferring in from Virginia Tech prior to the 2021 season. Kobayashi hit .324 with a couple of home runs and 15 RBIs. The fifth year outfielder’s best season however came in 2022, where she hit .317 for 12 HRs and 35 RBIs.
Infielder Holly Blaska will look to make it four consecutive seasons as an All-Conference performer after a first team selection in 2021 and back-to-back second team selections. Blaska is currently third all-time in program history in home runs.
Key Newcomers
The RedHawks will also rely on some new faces this season as they look to capture a fourth straight conference title.
“First thing is our pitchers; we have a freshman and 2 transfers,” said Kumar.
One of those transfers is fifth year senior Ashley Hitchcock. Hitchcock, a former Rutgers Scarlet Knight, comes to Oxford after posting a 7-2 record in the Big 10 conference.
“I’m excited to be on a team that has such a winning record,” said Hitchcock. “I want to end with a ring. That’s the end goal.”
The RedHawks added another Big 10 arm to their rotation with sixth year Addy Jarvis. Despite missing the entire 2022 season, Jarvis finished with 18 wins and a 3.01 ERA during her four years at Illinois.
Madilyn Reeves rounds out the rotation for Miami this season. The freshman from Yorkville, Illinois, holds her high school’s single season strikeouts record, and had a 1.38 ERA on the mound as a junior.
2024 Schedule
The RedHawks will be tested throughout the early part of the 2024 schedule. Matchups against three time defending national champion Oklahoma, along with games on the road against Clemson, Georgia, Ole Miss and Arizona highlight the non-conference schedule for Kumar’s group.
“That’s something I do every year is to play a tough non-conference schedule,” Kumar said. “It gets us ready for conference play. When we go play those teams and the girls can see that we can compete with these top teams in the country, we can play with anybody.”
Miami has opened its 2024 season with a 9-2 record. The RedHawks home opener against MAC rival Western Michigan is set for March 15.
