May 3, 2009
Final Stats
AKRON, Ohio - It was a tough day at the plate for Miami University's baseball team (25-19; 13-8 Mid-American Conference) as four Akron pitchers held hitters to just two runs on eight hits. The 4-2 loss to the Zips at Lee Jackson Field Sunday afternoon prevented the Miami series sweep.
Akron (15-30; 9-12 MAC) took an early lead on a Jake Plata RBI single in the bottom of the first, putting the Zips out in front 1-0.
Miami tied it up when junior designated hitter Zak Hatfield (Ft. Wayne, Ind.) belted his team-leading 11th home run to lead off the second inning. It was Hatfield's first home run since April 11.
The Zips would recapture the lead in the bottom of the fourth on two RBI singles that gave Akron a 3-1 lead.
Miami hitters were somewhat stifled at the plate against Akron starter Benjamin Danziger, managing only three hits through the first four innings. They loaded the bases in the fifth inning with no outs but were unable to push across any runs against Danziger's replacement, Frank Turocy.
The Miami bats would continue to stay quiet until the eighth inning. After senior third baseman Jordan Petraitis (Canal Fulton, Ohio) reached on a single, senior left fielder Chris Nadeau (Saline, Mich.) doubled down the right field line to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. Senior first baseman Tommy Nurre (Cincinnati, Ohio) then walked to load the bases with no outs. Hatfield then came through with his second RBI of the game on a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Petraitis and cut the Akron lead to 3-2.
Akron would add another run to its tally in the eighth on an RBI single by Brandon White to give the Zips a 4-2 lead going into the ninth inning.
Miami was set down quickly in the ninth as the RedHawks watched their five-game winning streak come to an end.
Sophomore second baseman Jon Edgington (Cincinnati, Ohio) was the lone RedHawk with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 on the day. Six other players accounted for the remaining hits.
After taking the week off for finals, the RedHawks will host MAC East Division rival Ohio University May 8-10 at McKie Field at Hayden Park.
