May 4, 2008
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio - Miami University's baseball team rallied for two runs in the seventh inning and two runs in the eighth inning to defeat the University of Akron, 8-7, Sunday afternoon in Mid-American Conference action at McKie Field at Hayden Park. Miami improved to 17-30 overall and 7-14 in MAC play, while Akron dropped to 22-19 overall and 7-8 in MAC action.
Just as it did the previous two games, Akron jumped out to an early lead scoring three runs before the RedHawks even got to the plate. A lead-off walk started the inning and two batters later, Kurt Davidson hit a two-run home run, his eighth of the season, putting the Zips ahead, 2-0. Akron then scored another run on back-to-back hits, increasing its lead to 3-0.
Three consecutive singles to lead off the first inning for the RedHawks helped Miami get on the board. Freshman Adam Eaton singled through the right side on a zero balls, one strike count, before moving up ninety feet on a single into left-center field by junior Jordan Petraitis. Junior Tommy Nurre extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a RBI single to left-center field, making the score 3-1. Junior J.D. Mynhier followed Nurre with a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Petraitis from third base and closed the gap to 3-2.
After Akron was retired in order in the top of the second inning, the RedHawks tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the frame. After working a three balls, one strike count, junior Josh Hula deposited a solo home run over the left field fence that tied the game at 3-3. The home run was Hula's first of the season.
Akron scored one run in the top of the sixth, but the RedHawks responded with a run of their own in the sixth to tie the game at 4-4. Senior Evan Armitage singled through the right side with one out and then advanced to third base on a single to center field by Hula. To eliminate the double play possibility, freshman Jon Edgington brilliantly executed a hit and run, which advanced Hula to second base and drove in Armitage on a RBI groundout.
Miami avoided further trouble in the seventh by getting out of a bases load jam in the top of the inning, before taking its first lead of the game in the bottom of the inning. Mynhier reached base on a one-out infield single and then advanced to third base on a slicing single into left-center field by junior Chris Nadeau. Freshman Brad Gschwind singled through the right side to bring home Mynhier and give the RedHawks a 5-4 advantage. After a fielder's choice put runners on the corners with two outs, Hula delivered an insurance run with a RBI single through the left side, placing Miami ahead by a score of 6-4.
Miami loaded the bases in the eighth inning as Eaton doubled to right field, Petraitis walked and Nurre was hit by a pitch. Eaton scored on a double-play ball, advancing Petraitis to third base with two outs. Nadeau smacked a single through the right side plating Petraitis and increasing the RedHawk cushion to 8-4.
Akron scored three runs in the ninth inning and had the winning run on second base, but sophomore Chase Stewart struck out Brandon White to earn his first save of the season and give the RedHawks an 8-7 win.
Hula led the RedHawks going 3-for-4 from the plate, with two RBIs. Sophomore Reece Asbury earned his first win of the season pitching two innings and striking out two batters in relief.
The RedHawks are off until Friday, May 9, when Miami travels to Athens, Ohio for a three-game series against the Ohio Bobcats.
