Miami University
Indiana
Miami Baseball Has Six-Game Winning Streak Snapped By Indiana
4/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 13, 2005
OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami University baseball team (20-12) had its six-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday afternoon at the hands of the Indiana University Hoosiers (18-12). The RedHawks were outhit, 9-7, and failed to capitalize on five Indiana errors as the Hoosiers came away with a 5-2 win.
Starting his first game since having elbow surgery during the 2004 season, junior righthander Matt Long (Granville, Ohio) retired the Hoosiers in order in the bottom of the first inning. Long threw just nine pitches as he induced three ground balls to the right side of the infield.
The first four batters of the fourth inning reached base for Indiana, resulting in two runs before Miami was able to record an out. After a sacrifice bunt advanced runners to second and third, Long was replaced by sophomore righty Jeff Day (West Chester, Ohio). Day's first pitch was subsequently laid down for a squeeze bunt, scoring the runner from third and giving IU a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom half of the inning, Miami loaded the bases with no outs but only managed to cut the lead to 3-1. With senior John Slone (Cincinnati, Ohio) on third, classmate Tyler Tabler (Cincinnati, Ohio) lofted a fly ball to centerfield that scored Slone from third.
Freshman lefthander Matt Erwood (Atlanta, Ga.) helped Miami escape a bases loaded jam in the top of the fifth. Erwood relieved Day with one out and recorded the final two outs of the inning to the RedHawks within two runs.
A single to right by Slone with one out in the bottom of the fifth scored sophomore Ryne Robinson (Toledo, Ohio) from second, pulling the RedHawks within one run, at 3-2.
Indiana made it 5-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh off Erwood on two hits and one Miami error before giving Miami a chance to get back in the game, making three errors to start the home half of the frame. The RedHawks were unable to push a run across as senior Brian Canada (Fishers, Ind.) rolled into an inning-ending double play.
Long was tagged with the loss, dropping his season record to 0-1, while Matt Saba earned the victory, improving to 3-1.
Miami continues its homestand over the weekend as the RedHawks host Buffalo for a three-game Mid-American Conference series on April 14-16. Friday's first pitch is slated for 3 p.m. with sophomore lefthander Keith Weiser (Hamilton, Ohio) set to toe the Rubber for Miami.
