Miami University
Michigan State
Big Innings Cost Miami in 7-5 Loss
3/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 9, 2011
LAKELAND, Fla. -- Two big innings by Michigan State cost Miami a chance at victory Wednesday afternoon in a 7-5 loss to the Spartans at Henley Field. The Spartans tallied three in the first and four in the third before fighting off the RedHawks' rally.
Ryan Kaup was 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while Adam Weisenburger and Brad Gschwind each tallied a pair of hits for Miami.
Michigan State (8-3) parlayed four hits in the bottom of the first to open a 3-0 lead. The inning started with a pair of singles, then a sacrifice to put runners at second and third. A groundout plated the first run, then a single and triple capped the rally.
Miami (4-7) answered with a run in the top of the third. Kaup singled with one out and came home on a double that sliced down the left field line. But Michigan State answered right back. A leadoff single and double put runners on second and third again with nobody out. After a lineout, the Spartans pushed the lead back to three, 4-1 with a groundout. A bunt single brought home the second run of the frame, then later a two-run single made the score 7-1 after three.
But the Redhawks did not give up, slowly clawing back into the game. In the fourth, Marcus Makuch walked and Adam Weisenburger singled before a balk moved them up 90 feet. Gschwind brought both runners home with a double to the gap in right center. One out later, Jon Edgington singled to right to make the score 7-4.
From there, the Miami defense buckled down behind relievers Ryan Campbell and Joe Neff. Campbell worked out of a jam in the fourth after MSU had runners on first and second with one out, while Neff allowed just one hit and one walk over four innings.
Miami was in position to even the game in the ninth. With one out, Kaup singled before Redeker was hit by a pitch. Clean-up hitter Kyle Weldon hit a line drive shot back up the middle, only to have it hit the heel of Spartan closer Bryce Jenney. The ball stopped almost dead on the mound, allowing Jenney to make a throw to first. Pinch-hitter Kevin Bower delivered an infield single to the gap between short and third to cut the deficit, but a fielder's choice ended the game with the potential go-ahead run at the plate.
Brooks Fiala (0-2) earned the loss for Miami, while MSU reliever Joe Zwierzynski (1-0) earned the win with 2.1 innings of two-hit ball.
The RedHawks return to action on Thursday when it faces local rival Xavier in an 11:30 a.m. contest.
