Buccaneers Outlast RedHawks, 7-5
3/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The RedHawks (2-10, 0-0 MAC) fell to East Tennessee State, 7-5 Friday. The Red & White seemed to find their offense again, outhitting the Bucs 13-6, but couldn’t contain an opportune ETSU team.
The Bucs got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning. Kevin Phillips hit a double to center field, scoring Jeremy Taylor. The Bucs’ lead stood at 1-0 after one inning.
The lead did not last long as the RedHawks got their bats going in the top of the third. Jake Romano singled to lead off the inning. After a Steve Sada strikeout, Chad Sedio ripped a triple to right field, scoring Romano. The next at-bat, Matt Honchel hit a sac fly to center field, scoring Sedio. ETSU came storming back in the bottom half of the frame. A two-run homerun by Phillips put the Bucs back on top, 3-2 after three innings.
The ‘Hawks wasted no time tying things up. In the top half of the fourth inning, Romano singled to left, scoring Ryan Elble. The Bucs took the lead again in the bottom of the fifth. Back-to-back sac flies put them up, 5-3 after five. Another sac fly in the top of the seventh inning extended ETSU’s lead to 6-3.
Miami got one back in the top of the eighth on a Romano single that scored Max Andresen. However, an RBI single by ETSU’s Daniel Tucker brought the Bucs’ lead back to four. After eight frames, ETSU was up 7-4.
The top of the ninth saw the RedHawks cut into the lead once more. A two-out double by Andresen kept Miami’s hopes alive and the next batter, Scott Slappey, belted a triple to left center that scored Andresen. A lineout the next at-bat ended the game and Miami’s chances for a ninth inning rally.
The Red & White return to action tomorrow in game two of their series against ETSU. First pitch is set for 2:05 p.m.
