Miami University
Indiana
Baseball Downs Hoosiers, 8-6, in Think Pink Game
4/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 20, 2010
OXFORD, Ohio - After falling behind early, the Miami University baseball team used a balanced effort and took the lead for good in the fourth inning, as the RedHawks held off the Indiana Hoosiers late for an 8-6 win Tuesday evening at McKie Field at Hayden Park in the team's annual Think Pink game for breast cancer awareness. Miami (17-19) also defeated the Hoosiers (19-16) on March 13 this season during its spring break trip, 19-7, in Gainesville, Fla.
Eight RedHawks tallied at least one hit, led by junior third baseman Brad Gschwind (Cincinnati, Ohio), who went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and runs scored each, while sophomore center fielder Ryan Curl (Columbus, Ohio) notched two hits with a run and RBI each. Junior right fielder Adam Eaton (Springfield, Ohio) smacked his fifth three-bagger of 2010 in the contest, which drove in two runs and also gave him 14 triples for his career, tying him with Chris Sexton (1990-93) for the school's all-time triples record.
Miami earned its fourth win in 21 tries when being out-hit by its opponent, as Indiana held a 13-12 edge in base knocks. Designated hitter Josh Lyon paced the Hoosiers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and a home run, two RBI and a trio of runs scored.
Indiana jumped on Miami quickly, as a double by left fielder Alex Dickerson scored a run in the first inning while back-to-back solo shots by Lyon and catcher Wes Wilson to start the top of the second gave the Hoosiers a 3-0 cushion. The 'Hawks answered in the bottom of the second, however, as junior shortstop Ryan Kaup (Chandler, Ariz.) doubled to right-center to drive in Miami's first run while a two-RBI bloop single in shallow right field by Gschwind evened the score at 3-3.
IU briefly regained the lead in the top of the fourth on a sac fly, but the RedHawks responded with a trio of runs in bottom of the frame, as an infield single by Curl sent freshman first baseman Kevin Bower (Indianapolis, Ind.) home while the two go-ahead runs crossed the dish on Eaton's record-tying triple to give Miami a 6-4 lead. Bower then blasted his second longball of the season over the fence in right-center in the fifth to up the advantage to three while a sac fly to center by junior left fielder/first baseman Kyle Weldon (Mason, Ohio) allowed Gschwind to scamper home in the sixth inning to double up the Hoosiers, 8-4.
After two strikeouts to start the top of the eighth, Indiana mounted a two-out rally as back-to-back doubles by right fielder Michael Earley and Lyon scored one run while a single by pinch hitter T.C. Knipp cut IU's deficit in half at 8-6. Weldon snared a sharp grounder at first base in the next at-bat however, to end the threat. Sophomore reliever Jordan Jankowski (McMurray, Pa.), who recorded the final out in the eighth, set the Hoosiers down in order in the ninth to pick up his sixth save of 2010 and secure the 8-6 win.
The teams combined to use 11 pitchers in the game, with junior reliever Sam Dawes (Cincinnati, Ohio) picking up the win (1-1), his first of the season, as he tied his career-long outing by tossing 4.1 innings and allowing just one run on four hits. Jankowski worked the final 1.1 innings perfectly, not allowing a hit or a walk while fanning two to top his save total from his freshman campaign of five. Mike McKinley (2-3) took the loss for Indiana, giving up three runs on four hits in two innings of relief with a walk and two strikeouts.
As part of the Think Pink game, Miami wore special white jerseys with pink lettering and a pink ribbon and black caps with a pink M on it. Multiple items, including autographed team photos and special jerseys, were also auctioned off to help raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which supports the fight against breast cancer.
The RedHawks continue their home stand Wednesday when they play Xavier for the third time in 2010. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at McKie Field at Hayden Park. Miami took the first two games from the Musketeers earlier in April.
--MURedHawks.com--
