Miami University
College of Charleston
Baseball Hangs Tough, Falls to Charleston
2/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 19, 2011
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Shawn Marquardt and Brooks Fiala turned in solid efforts on the mound, but a couple timely hits lifted No. 20 Charleston to a 6-2 win over Miami Saturday afternoon in the College of Charleston Invitational.
Only four of the six runs allowed by the two RedHawk pitchers were earned. Of the eight Cougar hits, seven of them were to the 2-3-4 batters in the lineup. Six different RedHawks recorded a hit, including Bryce Redeker, who also drove in his first run of the season.
Miami (0-2) broke into the lead with a run in the top of the first. Ryan Brenner led off with a looping single to right. One out later, he stole second and third on back-to-back pitches before coming home on Redeker's sacrifice fly to center.
Charleston (2-0) used a pair of extra-base hits to answer with two runs in its first at-bat. Rob Kral doubled with one out, then Marty Gantt followed with a triple to the gap in right center. A sacrifice fly made the score 2-1 after one.
Miami manufactured the tying run in the third. After two strikeouts, Jon Edgington singled through the left side and stole second. Redeker put runners on the corners with an infield single, then two executed a perfect double steal.
But again Charleston answered in the bottom of the inning. Cole Rakar earned a one-out walk after Kyle Weldon was unable to haul in a pop foul, extending the at-bat. Kral and Gantt both singled to load the bases, then Matt Leeds drove in two with a single of his own.
The Cougars added two unearned runs in the seventh. Jamie Holler reached on an error by Ryan Kaup, then advanced to third on a sacrifice and wild pitch. Gantt, who finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Leeds, who was 2-for-3 with four runs batted in, both singled to complete the scoring.
"I thought Charleston was a good team... there is a reason they are ranked 20th," Head Coach Dan Simonds said. "They are well-balanced and have some guys that can swing the bat. We played better baseball today but came out on the short end. I thought Shawn did a nice job and Brooks gave us a chance out of the bullpen. Defensively, we were solid except one miscue that hurt us. We just didnt do some things offensively when we had to, but we will get there."
Miami completes play in the tournament with a matchup with Kentucky tomorrow morning at 11 a.m.
