April 22, 2006
Box Score
KENT, Ohio - Senior lefthander Graham Taylor allowed just six hits and retired 16 of the game's final 18 batters but the Miami offense could not solve Kent State starter Steve Ross as the RedHawks (17-20, 6-8 MAC) dropped a 3-1 decision to the Golden Flashes on Saturday. Taylor went 8.0 innings and fanned four but was the game's hard-luck loser.
A two-out error by Miami shortstop Geoff Orr (Orland Park, Ill.) proved costly for the RedHawks in the bottom of the second inning as Kent State capitalized on the opportunity and pushed a run across to take a 1-0 lead.
Kent State added two more in the bottom of the third off starting pitcher Graham Taylor (Villa Hills, Ky.), plating runs an a sacrifice fly and RBI single. Senior centerfielder Jason Brown (Fairfield, Ohio) kept prevented the Golden Flashes from doing any more damage in the inning, making a spectacular sliding catch on a shallow fly ball behind second base.
Miami cut into the KSU lead with a run in the top of the fourth courtesy of a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield by Orr that scored sophomore Evan Armitage (Milford, Ohio) and made it 3-1. After singling to lead off the frame, Armitage advanced to second on a single by junior Brandon Hillier (Hinsdale, Ill.), before both runners moved up on a wild pitch by Kent State's Steve Ross.
Reed Lamport relieved Ross after he went 6.2 innings and surrendered four hits while striking out three to improve his season record to 4-3. Taylor was tagged with the loss and dropped to 3-5.
Miami and Kent State play game three of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. with junior Keith Weiser (Hamilton, Ohio) slated to start on the mound for the RedHawks.
NOTES: SR Geoff Orr hit his 40th career double, moving him to 8th on the Miami's all-time doubles list.
