March 25, 2011
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio -- Kyle Weldon's bloop single in the top of the 11th scored Ryan Brenner from third, lifting Miami to a 2-1 victory over Central Michigan in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams. The series is being played in Oxford because of wintry weather in Michigan.
Both starting pitchers were absolutely masterful on the mound. Central Michigan's Trent Howard lasted a full nine innings, striking out 13 RedHawks, while allowing just five hits. Miami's Mac Thoreson pitched 8.1 innings, scattering seven hits, while fanning a career-best nine batters. Each of them had just one walk.
Central Michigan (9-13, 0-1) tallied the first run, using a walk to Brendan Emmett and triple by Tyler Hall to open a 1-0 lead after two. Miami (10-11, 1-0) struck back in the top of the third. With one out, Ryan Kaup singled up the middle and came home when Bryce Redeker doubled to left center.
The RedHawks threatened in the sixth after a leadoff double by Jon Edgington and in the seventh when Brenner reached third with two outs, but were unable to break the tie.
Both teams also challenged in the ninth to no avail. Miami stranded Adam Weisenburger at second after he had doubled with two outs, while the Chippewas used a pair of infield singles to put runners at first and second with one out. But reliever Sam Dawes induced a double-play groundout from pinch-hitter Tom Howard to send the game to extra innings.
Brenner led off the decisive inning with a walk, then was sacrificed to second by Kaup. After Redeker was intentionally walked for the second time in the game, Brenner stole third before Weldon blooped a single in left center field. The senior first baseman had been hitless in 12 straight at-bats over the last three games.
Brandon Adkins, who came in for the final out of the 10th, retired the side in the 11th to improve to 1-1. He struck out the final two CMU hitters. Dietrich Enns (2-1) took the loss, allowing one hit and three walks over the final two innings.
Six different RedHawks each had a hit during the game, while Hall and Jordan Dean each collected two of Central's eight hits.
The RedHawks and Chippewas play game two of the series Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.
