Miami University
Michigan State
11-Run Third Sends Miami to Defeat
2/24/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 24, 2012
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- An 11-run third inning by Michigan State was too much for Miami to overcome Friday in a 13-4 loss to the Spartans at the First Pitch Invitational. The game was played at Fluor Field, home of the South Atlantic League's Greenville Drive.
Four RedHawks registered two hits apiece -- Matt Honchel, Bryce Redeker, Alex Johnson and Nate Bowles. Miami (2-2) had a total of 12 hits on the day.
Michigan State (2-2) jumped out to a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the second. A leadoff single led to an error on the failed pickoff attempt, then another single put runners on the corners. A passed ball on Bowles plated the run. The Spartans broke the game open in the third. A leadoff single and stolen base was followed by a run-scoring single and 2-0 advantage. After an out, MSU recorded eight straight singles, six off Miami starter Brooks Fiala (1-1). The damage continued off Ryan Powers, who faced five batters without getting an out (three hits, a walk and hit batter).
Charles Zubrod closed the door and gave Miami a chance to rally, allowing just one run and two hits over 4.2 innings.
Miami tried to rally, scoring once in the fourth and three times in the fifth. Kevin Bower extended his hitting streak to eight straight dating back to last year with a run-scoring single. An inning later, Slappey started the rally with a double to left center. After an out, Ryan Brenner singled and took second with some alert baserunning. Honchel singled in both runners to make the score 12-3. Later in the frame, Johnson plated Honchel with an infield single.
Tony Bucciferro (2-0) got the for the Spartans, allowing 10 hits and four runs, three earned) in six innings. Joe Zwierzynski threw the final three innings for his first save of the season.
Miami continues play tomorrow against Furman at noon, while the RedHawks and Spartans will play again Sunday at noon.
