April 18, 2010

Box Score

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Junior left fielder Kyle Weldon drove in a career-high six runs, including his first collegiate grand slam in the fifth inning, which broke a tie and helped the Miami University baseball team win the series finale at Western Michigan, 10-3, Sunday at Hyames Field at Bobb Stadium. The Broncos (9-25, 3-9 Mid-American Conference) won the first two games of the series over the RedHawks (16-19, 4-8 MAC) by one run each day.

Weldon (Mason, Ohio) finished the day 2-for-4, including his fourth round-tripper of the season, and stole his first career base. Junior right fielder Adam Eaton (Springfield, Ohio) was 3-for-5 at the plate while scoring a trio of runs with an RBI and a stolen base and junior second baseman Jon Edgington (Cincinnati, Ohio) also scored three runs, notching two hits and stealing a base, as well.

Freshman starter Mac Thoreson (Knoxville, Tenn.) tossed his first career complete game-Miami's first of the season-while allowing just three runs on eight hits and fanning a career-high seven Broncos with just two walks to earn the win (2-3). WMU starter Billy Morrison (1-5) took the loss, giving up seven runs (six earned) on seven hits in 4.1 innings of work with four punch-outs.

Western Michigan grabbed a 2-0 lead in the third inning on an RBI triple by designated hitter Jimmy Martinez and a run-scoring single by third baseman Grant Simotes. The 'Hawks quickly erased the deficit in the top of the fourth on a sac fly by Weldon that scored Eaton while Edgington crossed home on one of two Bronco errors in the contest.

Miami then took the lead for good with a five-run fifth inning, the first four of which came on Weldon's grand slam, while freshman first baseman Kevin Bower (Indianapolis, Ind.) singled through the right side to complete the scoring. A sac fly by the Broncos in the bottom of the frame made it a 7-3 contest, but the RedHawks added three insurance runs in the sixth on four singles, a sac bunt and an RBI groundout. Thoreson allowed just three hits over the final four innings to secure the 10-3 victory.

The RedHawks out-hit WMU, 12-8, while the Broncos stranded nine runners compared to Miami's five left on base. Simotes and center fielder Kyle Galbraith led Western Michigan at the dish, each collecting a pair of hits with an RBI.

Miami is back in action Tuesday, April 20 when it hosts Indiana at 6 p.m. for its Think Pink Game for Breast Cancer Awareness. The 'Hawks defeated the Hoosiers, 19-7, back on March 13 on a neutral field in Gainesville, Fla.

--MURedHawks.com--