April 15, 2011
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OXFORD, Ohio - Five Miami players registered multiple hits -- led by Kevin Bower with a career-high four -- and Mac Thoreson and Joe Neff combined on a four-hit shutout as the RedHawks defeated Western Michigan 9-0 Friday afternoon at McKie Field. Bryce Redeker drove in four on his two hits, while Brad Gschwind homered as part of his two-hit afternoon.
Neff (2-1) picked up his second win of the season, pitching the final five innings while tallying a career-high six strikeouts.
Miami (18-17, 6-4 MAC) reached double figures in hits for the 14th time this season, including five of the last seven contests. Going into the game, Bronco pitchers had a combined 3.45 earned run average and were allowing opposing hitters to a .257 batting average.
Ryan Kaup, who broke out of a 0-for-8 slump by getting on base in four of his five plate appearances on a hit, two walks and a fielding error, drove in the first Miami run in the second inning and later scored in the fourth. He singled home Adam Weisenburger, who was hit by a pitch and stole second, giving the RedHawks a 1-0 lead.
They added four more runs in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly to right field by Jon Edgington that scored Weisenburger from third, a bases-loaded walk to Brad Gschwind and a two-run single by Redeker.
Thoreson struck out one and allowed two hits and a walk over the first four innings, but left the game after experiencing soreness in his hamstring during a few warm-up pitches for the top of the fifth inning. Neff came in to get loose, but the game experienced a 75-minute rain delay before the first batter. When the teams resumed play, Neff was nearly unhittable, allowing only a single and a double, while walking one over the final five frames.
Redeker added a two-run home run to left center in the sixth inning and Gschwind led off the eighth with a first-pitch shot over the left-field wall. Kyle Weldon scored the final run for Miami with a triple to right center field before sprinting home on a wild pitch.
WMU starter Brian Stroud (5-3) took the loss, allowing five earned runs in four innings. He allowed just six hits and walked a pair, while fanning two. The junior had allowed only 16 earned runs in 56.2 innings entering the contest.
The two teams will continue the series tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m., weather permitting. Check back to MURedhawks.com for updates on possible time changes due to playing conditions.
