April 25, 2010

Box Score

OXFORD, Ohio - After needing walk-off hits to win the first two games of the series, the Miami University baseball team left little doubt about Sunday's game, as the RedHawks used a 10-run fourth inning to cruise to a 16-5 win over Akron at rainy McKie Field at Hayden Park and complete their first weekend sweep of the season. Miami (20-20, 7-8 Mid-American Conference), which earned two league sweeps a year ago and took two of three from the Zips (16-22, 2-13 MAC) in 2009, is back at .500 overall for the first time since March 20 (8-8).

Junior right fielder Adam Eaton (Springfield, Ohio) led the charge for the 'Hawks, going 4-for-6, including his team-leading ninth homer of the year, as he came a triple shy of the cycle. Eaton also added four RBI and scored three runs. Junior left fielder/first baseman Kyle Weldon (Mason, Ohio) had a trio of hits, two runs scored and an RBI while drilling his second round-tripper in as many days. Junior third baseman Brad Gschwind (Cincinnati, Ohio) also had three hits, two runs and an RBI while sophomore center fielder Ryan Brenner (Kirtland, Ohio) had a pair of hits, runs and RBI each.

Miami's 16 runs marked a season high in league play as were its 17 hits. Akron tallied nine hits, five of which were doubles, as right fielder Jake Plata and catcher John Turk both had a trio of hits, including two two-baggers apiece, and an RBI.

Freshman starter Mac Thoreson (Knoxville, Tenn.) nearly threw his second straight complete game, but went eight innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits with three punch-outs and a walk to earn his second consecutive win (3-3). The Zips' Benjamin Danziger (4-7) took the loss, giving up five runs on five hits in the first two innings while relievers Zach Yike and Danny Fawcett each allowed five runs as well over the next two innings.

Miami homered in the first inning for the second straight day, as Weldon, the hero from Saturday with his walk-off homer, drilled a solo shot over the right-center field wall for an early 1-0 cushion. The Zips evened the score in the top of the second as a single to center by third baseman Sam Trecaso scored Turk, who reached on an error.

The 'Hawks used a pair of Akron errors to grab a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the second, as Brenner put down a sac bunt with no outs and men on first and second but Danziger threw the ball wide of first, allowing two runs to score while Eaton followed with a single which plated Brenner. A fielding error by UA's first baseman, which would have ended the frame, then allowed Eaton to cross home, capping the burst.

The Red and White then blew the game open in the fourth, erupting for 10 runs on six hits as 13 RedHawks came to the plate. The first eight batters of the frame reached base safely and scored before the Zips recorded an out. Sophomore designated hitter Jordan Jankowski (McMurray, Pa.), who had the game-winning hit Friday, Brenner and Eaton each had two-RBI doubles in the inning while freshman first baseman Kevin Bower (Indianapolis, Ind.) clubbed his third homer of the year--a two-run bomb to right--to complete the offensive explosion.

Doubles by Plata and Turk in the sixth scored Akron's second tally while Plata homered in the eighth, only to see Eaton go yard in the bottom of the frame with his second longball of the series. The Zips tacked on two more runs in the ninth but freshman reliever Brandon Adkins (Ona, W.Va.) closed out the 16-5 win for Miami.

The RedHawks have a whole week off until continuing conference action at Bowling Green for a three-game series from Friday, April 30 to Sunday, May 2. First pitch Friday is set for 3 p.m. while Saturday and Sunday start at 1 p.m.

--MURedHawks.com--