March 27, 2010
Game 1 Box Score | Photo Gallery 
Game 2 Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio - On a sunny Saturday at McKie Field at Hayden Park, the Miami University baseball team wrapped up its Mid-American Conference opening series by splitting a doubleheader with Central Michigan, winning game one, 6-3, before falling in the finale, 5-1. The Chippewas (10-9, 2-1 MAC), who defeated the RedHawks (10-12, 1-2 MAC) Friday in the league opener for both teams, won the weekend series by taking the night cap of the doubleheader.
Freshman starting right-hander Brooks Fiala (Carmel, Ind.) paved the way to victory in game one for Miami, as he earned the win on the mound to improve to 2-1, tossing a career-long 7.1 innings while scattering seven hits and allowing just three runs (two earned) with a pair of strikeouts. CMU starter Jake Sabol (2-3) took the loss, surrendering six runs on six hits with five punch-outs and three walks.
Junior first baseman Kyle Weldon (Mason, Ohio) led the offensive charge for the 'Hawks in game one, going 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI, as both teams recorded eight hits, but half of Miami's hits were doubles, including one from Weldon. Chippewa first baseman Nate Theunissen had three hits and an RBI for CMU while shortstop Robbie Harman collected two hits, as did RedHawk junior catcher Adam Weisenburger (Plymouth, Minn.).
Miami jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning of the day's opener on a pair of two-RBI doubles by Weldon and junior second baseman Jon Edgington (Cincinnati, Ohio). CMU got a run back in the fourth on an RBI double by third baseman William Arnold, but in the seventh a sac fly by junior right fielder Adam Eaton (Springfield, Ohio) plated sophomore centerfielder Ryan Curl (Columbus, Ohio) and junior third baseman Brad Gschwind (Cincinnati, Ohio) motored home from first on a double by Weisenburger that turned into three bases when the CMU left fielder struggled to collect the ball, making the score 6-1.
The Chippewas pushed two runs across in the top of the eighth, one of which was unearned, but sophomore reliever Jordan Jankowski (McMurray, Pa.), who also served as the designated hitter, put CMU down in order in the ninth, including the final two via strikeout, to pick up the save and secure Miami's 6-3 win. With the save, his fourth of the season, Jankowski moves into a tie for sixth all-time at Miami with nine career saves.
In game two, strong pitching proved to be the story again. Central Michigan notched a run in the first frame as centerfielder Billy Anderson led off with a double and later scored on a sac fly by Theunissen, but Miami freshman starter Mac Thoreson (Knoxville, Tenn.) settled down and allowed just one Chippewa to reach base over the next three innings. The RedHawks evened the score at one in the fourth on an RBI single up the middle by Weldon that scored Eaton.
CMU went ahead 2-1 in the fifth as another sac fly, this one by Harman, plated second baseman Ricky Clark, who reached on a double. Miami looked to even the game in the bottom of the fifth with men on second and third and just one out, but a strikeout and a groundout ended the threat.
The 'Hawks again had a chance to tie the game in the eighth with runners on the corners and two outs, but Weldon was rung up on strikes to keep the Chippewas ahead, 2-1. CMU then tacked on a trio of security runs in the top of the ninth, two on a single by catcher Dale Cornstubble, to make it 5-1, and Miami was unable to rally in the bottom of the inning despite a leadoff walk, resulting in the doubleheader split.
Thoreson (1-2) suffered the loss, despite throwing a career-long 6.2 innings and allowing just two runs on seven hits with a career-best four strikeouts, while CMU reliever Dietrich Enns (2-0) earned the win, working three scoreless innings and allowing just two hits with four punch-outs. Trent Howard picked up his second save of the series, firing the final 1.2 frames without allowing a hit while fanning three.
Weldon had two of Miami's five hits in game two and the lone RBI, while outfielder Tyler Kipke paced the Chippewas with three hits while Harman and Anderson each had two, as CMU finished with 10 hits. Both teams stranded eight runners in the contest.
Saturday was Military Appreciation Day at McKie Field as well, as Miami wore camouflage hats for game two and recognized the U.S. armed forces by having Miami's Navy and Air Force ROTC present at the game, as well as former RedHawk and current U.S. Marine Captain George Stegmiller throw out the first pitch prior to the night cap.
The RedHawks conclude their five-game home stand Wednesday, March 31, when they step out of conference play to host local rival Dayton out of the Atlantic 10 at 6 p.m.
--MURedHawks.com--
