Miami University
Massachusetts
RedHawks Claw Back For 8-6 Win Over UMass
3/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 20, 2004
Bradenton, Fla. - In the finale of the Spring Trip the Miami RedHawks had to rally from a 5-2 deficit with six runs in the final three inning to down the University of Massachusetts 8-6 at the IMG Academy Fields. Junior first baseman Mike Ferris provided the big blow for Miami hitting a three-run home run in the seventh to give Miami its first lead of the game at 6-5. The home run was Ferris' 13th of the year and fifth in Florida.
UMass put the pressure on Miami early scoring a pair of runs off freshman Jeff Day in the bottom of the second inning. Miami was able to knot the game at 2-2, getting a pair of runs in the top of the fifth thanks to an RBI single by Jason Brown and a John Slone sacrifice fly.
As soon as things were looking up for Miami, UMass jumped right back in the lead with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Following a scoreless six, the RedHawks' bats awoke and proceeded to strike back. After a Ryan Edginton single to lead off the seven, he stole second setting himself up to score on Brown's second RBI single of the game. Following Brown's hit Slone backed it up with another hit. With two on and one out Ferris provided the fireworks with his towering home run into the wind to put Miami up 6-5.
Miami added another run in the eighth on a suicide squeeze by Courtney Campbell that scored Paul Frietch. UMass kept the game a one-run affair adding a run in the bottom of the eighth after Day allowed a leadoff triple. Sophomore righthander Matt Long took over from there and shut down the Minutemen over the final 1.2 innings for his second save of the season. Day got the win and improved to 3-1 on the year.
The RedHawks finished the Spring Trip 6-3 and are 12-8 overall. Miami returns home on Wednesday, March 23 as they take on the University of Cincinnati before opening up conference play next weekend versus Ohio University on March 26-28.
