March 23, 2010
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
RICHMOND, Ky. - A four-run first inning by Eastern Kentucky erased an early lead and was too much for the Miami University baseball team to overcome, as the Colonels handed the RedHawks a 7-3 loss Tuesday afternoon at Turkey Hughes Field in the first of back-to-back games between the teams. With the victory, EKU (8-10) grabbed the lead in the all-time series with Miami (8-10), 11-10, but the 'Hawks will have a chance to again even the series Wednesday.
Sophomore centerfielder Ryan Curl (Columbus, Ohio) led Miami's offense with a pair of doubles and two runs scored while junior third baseman Brad Gschwind (Cincinnati, Ohio) also had two hits with an RBI and a run scored. The Colonels out-hit the RedHawks 10-6, led by two hits and two runs scored each by designated hitter Jacob Daniel and third baseman Jayson Langfels, while first baseman Anthony Ottrando and right fielder Michael Garcia both tallied a pair of RBI.
EKU starter Greg Terry (2-1) earned the win, tossing six innings and allowing three runs on five hits with two walks and a trio of punch-outs, while Miami starter Joe Neff (Carmel, Ind.) took the loss (1-1), surrendering five runs on six hits in just two innings of work. Hurler Brandon Adkins (Ona, W.Va.) was strong in relief for the `Hawks, allowing just two runs on four hits in a career-long five frames on the mound with a career-high five strikeouts.
Miami jumped on top first as Curl led off the game with a deep double to right center that appeared to clear the fence but was ruled in play and later scored on a single by junior right fielder Adam Eaton (Springfield, Ohio). A sac fly by freshman left fielder Brooks Fiala (Carmel, Ind.) later in the first put the 'Hawks up 2-0, but the Colonels answered with five singles and a sac fly in the bottom of the frame to take a 4-2 lead through one.
An RBI groundout in the bottom of the second made it 5-2, which is where the score stayed until a double by Curl followed by an RBI single from Gschwind closed the gap to two in the top of the fifth. EKU loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth with no outs, but Adkins forced the Colonels into a double play and earned a strikeout to keep the damage to a run, which made the score 6-3 after five.
A solo shot by Eastern Kentucky catcher Joey Stevens in the sixth padded the Colonels' lead to four and EKU reliever Matt Harris put the RedHawks down in order in the seventh and eighth frames. In the top of the ninth, Miami's first two batters reached base. After two straight outs, a walk loaded the bases for the RedHawks but Colonel reliever Eric Sanders escaped the jam and induced the final out to pick up his first save of the season and secure the 7-3 victory for Eastern Kentucky.
The RedHawks and Colonels will square off again Wednesday in Oxford with first pitch set for 6 p.m. at McKie Field at Hayden Park.
--MURedHawks.com--
Notes: With his one stolen base Tuesday, junior outfielder Adam Eaton moved into Miami's career top 10 for stolen bases with 47 (in just 50 attempts), tying Jason Brown (2003-06) for 10th all-time ... Junior second baseman Jon Edgington returned to the lineup for the first time since March 9 vs. Lehigh, after suffering a hand injury at Auburn March 5 ... Freshman reliever Brandon Adkins, who threw five innings with five strikeouts Tuesday, had thrown just 3.1 innings in five appearances coming into Tuesday with just one punch-out ... The RedHawks and Colonels have split their home-and-home series three of the last four years (Miami won both meetings in 2007), with the home team winning each time, as Miami will look to make it four out of five years with a win at home Wednesday ... The RedHawks played an Ohio Valley Conference school for the fourth straight game Tuesday, after playing three games at Jacksonville State last weekend, but are just 1-3 in those contests.
