March 30, 2007
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio--Tying its most runs this season and also its most runs in an inning, Miami University's baseball team extended its win streak to seven straight games with a 12-4 win against Ball State University at McKie Field at Hayden Park on Friday evening.
The RedHawks posted another big inning, amassing seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, to surge past the Cardinals and hand Miami its fourth Mid-American Conference win. Miami, which has won 10 of its last 11 games, moved to 14-9 on the season and 4-0 in MAC play, while Ball State dropped to 11-14 overall and 2-2 in MAC action.
Junior hurler John Ely pitched 8.0 innings to improve to 4-1 on the season. Ely sat down seven batters and moved into a tie for eighth place on Miami's career strikeout chart with 224. The win also moved Ely into a tie for 10th place on Miami's career win list (22).
After a scoreless first inning, Ball State got on the board first, tacking on a run in the top of the second inning. Miami came back with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Following an sophomore designated hitter Eric Darlage double, senior first baseman Jeff Carroll doubled to extend his hitting streak to 10 straight games to plate Darlage. Carroll moved to third on a ground out before junior right fielder Chris Niro was walked. Niro stole second to put runners on second and third. Sophomore catcher Josh Hula singled, which scored Carroll, and an error by the Ball State third baseman on a fielder's choice allowed Niro to score and put the RedHawks up 3-1.
Neither team scored in the third inning, but Ball State was able to add three runs to its total in the top of the fourth to take a 4-3 advantage, which it carried into the bottom of the fifth inning.
For the fifth straight game, Miami recorded four or more runs in an inning when it amassed a season-high-tying seven runs in the fifth inning. Sophomore shortstop Jordan Petraitis belted the team's 12th triple of the season to start lead off the bottom of the inning for the Red and White. Sophomore leftfielder Chris Nadeau hit an RBI-single to score Petraitis. With bases loaded, an error by the third baseman allowed three RedHawk runs to score and put Niro on third base. Niro crossed the plate on a wild pitch, and the RedHawks took an 8-4 advantage.
The inning continued when singles by Hula and junior second baseman Evan Armitage put runners on first and second for the Red and White. Back-to-back singles by Petraitis and Nadeau allowed Hula and Armitage to score, respectively, and Miami increased its lead to 10-4.
Carroll doubled to start the bottom of the sixth inning for the RedHawks, and junior third baseman J.D. Mynhier reached on a bunt single. Armitage reached on a fielder's choice, which plated Carroll, and an error by the shortstop allowed Mynhier to score to give the RedHawks a 12-4 lead. Neither team would score over the final innings as the RedHawks went on to the 12-4 win.
For the fifth straight game, Miami reached double figures for hits, compiling 15 hits on the evening. Carroll went 3-for-4 with three runs and an RBI, while Petraitis went 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI to pace the RedHawks.
Miami and Ball State return to the field at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 30 in the second game of the weekend series. Sunday's game is slated for 1 p.m.
