March 15, 2005
Box Score
BRADENTON, Fla. - The Miami University RedHawks (5-7) rebounded from a 4-0 loss to the University of Massachusetts on Monday night to down the Kentucky Wildcats (12-4) by a score of 6-5 on Tuesday evening. The RedHawks jumped out to an early lead and held on in the late innings to pick up their third victory of the season over a Southeastern Conference foe.
Miami struck for five runs in the bottom of half of the first after sophomore lefthander Keith Weiser (Hamilton, Ohio) retired the Wildcats in order in the top half of the inning. The RedHawks sent nine batters to the plate, banging out five hits and capitalizing on a pair of Kentucky errors. Sophomore Ryne Robinson (Toledo, Ohio) and senior John Slone (Cincinnati, Ohio) both reached via errors to start the inning and eventually came around to score. Junior Geoff Orr (Orland Park, Ill.) plated Robinson from second base with a single through the middle that advanced Slone to third, who later scored on a passed ball. Senior Sam Sellery (Carmel, Ind.) drove in two more RedHawks with a one-out single to right before senior Tyler Tabler (Cincinnati, Ohio) scored Miami's fifth run on the back end of a double steal.
Kentucky got one of those runs back in the top half of the second on John Shelby's second home run of the year, deep to left field. It was just the second home run given up by Weiser this season.
The Wildcats cut the Miami lead to three runs in the top of the fifth with an unearned run. Colin Cowgill reached on a throwing error by junior shortstop Eric Radley (Hermitage, Tenn.) and scored four batters later on a single to left field by Shaun Lehmann.
The RedHawks chased Kentucky starter Alex Jordan with two outs in the sixth inning and a pair of RedHawks on base. Jordan gave way to southpaw Craig Snipp after going 5.2 and allowing five runs on four hits and striking out five Miami batters. Snipp stopped the Miami scoring threat when Ryne Robinson flew out to left field to end the inning.
John Slone scored Miami's sixth run, the eventual game winner, after singling to lead off the seventh. He advanced to third on a throwing error by Kentucky's pitcher, and scored on a single by Geoff Orr.
Weiser gave up an unearned run in the top of the seventh inning before giving way to freshman Connor Graham (Bowling Green, Ohio) in the top of the eighth with one out and a runner on second. Weiser went 7.1 innings allowing four runs, two of which was earned, and scattered seven hits while striking out eight. Graham gave up a double down the right field line to the first batter he faced, which cut Miami's lead to 6-4. The next batter Graham faced singled to right, driving in the runner from second and making the score 6-4 after eight innings.
Graham retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to pick up the first save of his career. He threw 1.2 innings and surrendered one run on two hits while striking out two. Weiser was credited with the victory, his first of the season.
Miami was led at the plate by Slone (2-for-3, 2 runs) and Orr (2-for-3, 2 RBI) while Sellery contributed a pair of RBIs in the winning effort.
The RedHawks play a pair of games on Wednesday (March 16) as they battle Illinois State at 10 a.m. before taking on Illinois State at 3 p.m. Both games will be played at IMG Academy Field in Bradenton, Fla.
Notes: JR Geoff Orr leads Miami with a .382 batting average and 11 RBIs ... SR Brian Canada (.357) is the only other RedHawk batting above .300 ... JR Jon Franzese, who didn't play versus Kentucky, has the team's longest active hitting streak at four games.
