Miami University
Michigan State
Spartans Top RedHawks in Weekend Finale
2/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 21, 2010
GREENVILLE, S.C. - The Miami University baseball team jumped out to a 4-0 lead early but Michigan State scored six runs in the sixth inning to break a tie game as the Spartans went on to defeat the RedHawks, 11-5, Sunday afternoon at Fluor Field in the finale of the First Pitch Invitational. Miami (1-2) and Michigan State (2-1) met on the diamond for the first time since 1979 with MSU now holding a 4-1 edge in the all-time series.
Junior right fielder Adam Eaton (Springfield, Ohio), junior catcher Adam Weisenburger (Plymouth, Minn.) and junior shortstop Brad Gschwind (Cincinnati, Ohio) each tallied a pair of hits for the Red & White, with Weisenburger smacking a double and Eaton finishing 8-for-9 at the plate in two days playing at Fluor Field (he went 6-for-6 Saturday vs. Furman). Sophomore centerfielder Ryan Brenner (Kirtland, Ohio) knocked in two runs, the first two RBI of his career, to also lift the RedHawk offense. Michigan State designated hitter Chris Roberts totaled five RBI while centerfielder Brandon Eckerle and first baseman Jeff Holm each notched a trio of hits.
Starter Kurt Wunderlich earned the win on the mound for the Spartans in his season debut, tossing 6.0 innings and allowing five runs (three earned) with three strikeouts while RedHawk senior reliever Jamaal Hollis (Chicago, Ill.) suffered the loss, as he allowed the go-ahead runs without recording an out. Miami freshman starter Brooks Fiala (Carmel, Ind.) allowed four runs in 4.1 innings of work in his collegiate debut.
Miami climbed on top in the first inning when an RBI groundout by junior left fielder Bryce Redeker (Watseka, Ill.) plated Eaton, who led off the game with a single. The 'Hawks then made it 3-0 in the second frame on a two-RBI single down the left-field line by Brenner and a balk made it 4-0, but the Spartans cut Miami's lead in half in the bottom of the second.
In the third frame, a single to center by Gschwind brought home Weisenburger, who reached on a double to start the inning, making it a 5-2 ballgame. Michigan State answered in the fifth, however, tallying three runs to even the game at 5-5 with the tying run coming on a double by Holm.
The Spartans then grabbed the lead for good with a six-run sixth inning, which included a grand slam from Roberts that was followed by a solo shot from shortstop Jonathan Roof, to take an 11-5 advantage. Miami managed just two hits after the first three innings (both in the eighth inning), as MSU's Trey Popp and Kurtis Frymier combined to toss the final three innings without allowing a run, as the 'Hawks were out-hit 12-9 in the contest. Miami put men on first and second in the ninth inning but a double play thwarted any hopes of a comeback, as the RedHawks fell by the same 11-5 score.
Miami returns to the diamond next weekend, Feb. 26-28, for a three-game series at Louisiana-Lafayette, beginning Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
--MURedHawks.com--
