May 12, 2009
Final Stats
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. - After struggling offensively early on and then putting together a ninth-inning rally, the Miami University baseball team (27-21; 14-10 MAC) would need extra frames to secure an 8-7 victory over Marshall on Tuesday afternoon.
The Thundering Herd (21-28; 8-13 C-USA) got on the board first, plating a run on an RBI double in the bottom of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead.
Miami hitters struggled early, failing to collect a hit off Marshall starter Shane Farrell through the first five innings of the game. They had just two players reach base during that stretch, reaching on a walk and a hit-by-pitch.
Several Miami relievers were able to keep the Thundering Herd off the scoreboard and keep the RedHawks in the game. Freshman Lance Kingray (Hilliard, Ohio) and junior Brandon Meister(Lincolnshire, Ill.) combined to pitch 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four hitters (three by Meister) through four and a third innings.
Marshall would extend its lead in the fifth. After loading the bases, a two-run single and a sacrifice fly plated three more runs for the Thundering Herd to give them a 4-0 lead.
Miami finally collected a hit off of Farrell when freshman second baseman Ryan Brenner (Kirtland, Ohio) poked a single through the left side in the sixth inning. After Brenner moved to third, senior third baseman Jordan Petratis (Canal Fulton, Ohio) knocked a single to right center that plated Brenner and cut the Marshall lead to 4-1.
The Herd added another run in the seventh on a fielder's choice that gave Marshall a 5-1 advantage after seven innings.
The RedHawks fought back for a run in the eighth inning as senior left fielder Chris Nadeau (Saline, Mich.) roped a single into right field that allowed sophomore shortstop Brad Gschwind (Cincinnati, Ohio) to score and cut the Herd lead to 5-2.
Miami continued fighting as it mounted a rally in the ninth inning for four runs. After two runners reached base, Gschwind hit a single to left that scored junior designated hitter Zak Hatfield (Ft. Wayne, Ind.) and cut the lead to two. After loading the bases, sophomore right fielder Adam Eaton (Springfield, Ohio) quickly unloaded them with a triple into the right centerfield gap that scored Gschwind, Brenner, and senior first baseman Tommy Nurre (Cincinnati, Ohio) and gave Miami its first lead of the day, 6-5.
Miami was not able to closeout the win in the ninth inning, however, as an RBI single tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth and sent the game into extra innings.
In the tenth, Nurre doubled down the leftfield line to score sophomore catcher Adam Weisenburger (Plymouth, Minn.) and give Miami a 7-6 lead. A throwing error on a grounder to shortstop allowed Nurre to score and push the RedHawk advantage to 8-6.
In the bottom of the tenth, Nathan Lape hit the first pitch of the inning over the left centerfield fence to cut the lead to 8-7. A strikeout and a batter's interference call allowed freshman Matt Rosinski (University Hts., Ohio) to pick up the save and closeout the win for Miami.
The RedHawks will conclude their regular season with a three-game series at Kent State Thursday, Friday and Saturday. First pitch will be at 3 p.m. on Thursday and 1 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
