April 17, 2007
Final Stats
CINCINNATI--Despite a 13-hit effort, Miami University's baseball team lost a close game at Xavier University on Tuesday afternoon, 4-3. The RedHawks drop to 18-13 overall, while the Musketeers improved to 16-20 on the season and remained undefeated at home with a 10-0 record.
A sacrifice fly allowed Xavier to get on the board first in the bottom of the fourth inning as the Musketeers took a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Xavier was able to tack on two more runs to extend its lead to 3-0. A Robbie Kelley home run to start the bottom of the seventh inning for the Musketeers pushed their lead to 4-0.
Miami would close the gap in the top of the eighth inning, scoring three runs. Senior center fielder Brandon Hillier was walked to start the inning for the RedHawks and crossed home plate off a sophomore left fielder Chris Nadeau double. With two outs, senior first baseman Jeff Carroll stepped to the plate and belted a double to plate Nadeau, while junior third baseman J.D. Mynier doubled in the next at-bat to score Carroll and put the RedHawks within one of the Musketeers, 4-3.
The RedHawks were able to hold Xavier scoreless in the bottom of the eighth inning but, despite a pair of singles in the top of the ninth inning, were unable to send any more runners home as the Musketeers went on to a 4-3 win.
Six different RedHawks recorded two hits with Hillier going 2-for-3 with a run. Freshman Nick Kurash made his first start of the season on the mound for the RedHawks, pitching 3.1 innings and picking up the loss.
After a nearly two and a half week road stretch, Miami returns home to host Kent State University in a three-game series this weekend. Friday's game is set for 6:30 p.m., Saturday's game is scheduled for 5 p.m., while Sunday's contest is slated for 1 p.m.
