Miami University
Alabama
Miami Gets Rolled Over by Crimson Tide, 8-7
3/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 12, 2005
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Miami RedHawks, looking to become the first team in 33 non-conference series to take one from Alabama, came close, but the Tide scored six times in the last two innings to steal an 8-7 victory over the RedHawks.
Miami scored the first five runs of the game in the fifth, putting together an impressive five-run, two-out rally. The rally started innocently enough with a single by Ryne Robinson and Brandon Hillier reaching on an Alabama error. From there, Evan Armitage walked to load the bases. Senior Geoff Orr then singled home the first two runs of the game, punching a hit into left field. After a Brian Canada double that plated another run, Paul Frietch singled up the middle to put the finishing touch on the rally, knocking in a pair and giving the RedHawks a 5-0 lead.
The lead wouldn't hold long as the Tide used a leadoff double, a triple and a ground out in the bottom of the stanza to cut the lead to 5-2.
Junior lefthander Graham Taylor settled in after the fifth and held Alabama scoreless in the next three frames. Taylor finished going 7.1 innings with six strikeouts and just one walk and allowing three runs.
The RedHawks ran out to a 7-2 lead, putting two more runs across in the top of the eighth inning, when Eric Radley plated two on a double suicide squeeze.
In the bottom of the eighth, Taylor got the lead off man out before allowing a solo home run to chop the lead to 7-3. That would be all for Taylor, who was relieved by Connor Graham, who closed out last night's 5-4 win.
Tonight would be another story for the freshman right-hander as the Crimson Tide scored two more times in the eighth to pull within 7-5. Miami went quietly in the ninth, setting up another close finish.
Alabama would complete the comeback tonight that they attempted to pull off last night as it strung together five straight hits and a walk to score three times in the ninth and win 8-7. The loss drops Graham, who went 1.0 inning allowing five runs (three earned), to 2-2.
Orr was the RedHawks top hitter versus the Tide, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a double.
Miami will again go for the series win in the rubber match of the three-game series tomorrow at 2 p.m.
