Miami Nearly Completes Ninth Inning Rally
3/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The RedHawks (2-11, 0-0 MAC) nearly erased a three-run deficit in the top of the ninth inning, but fell one score short in a 6-5 loss to East Tennessee State Saturday. Junior Chad Sedio finished with three hits and a triple shy of the cycle.
The RedHawks struck first in just the second at-bat of the game when Sedio belted a home run to left field, putting the RedHawks up 1-0. The home run is the team’s first of the year and the fourth of Sedio’s career. Miami extended the lead in the top of the second. After a one-out double by Jake Romano, senior Scott Slappey singled, bringing the speedy Romano around to score. The Bucs could not answer in the bottom half of the inning and the Red & White lead stood at 2-0 after two innings.
ETSU knotted the score up in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded, a single and a fielding error allowed two runs in, evening the game at two apiece through three innings.
Miami reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth. Max Andresen started things off with a leadoff triple. The next at-bat, Ryan Elble grounded out, but Andresen scored on the play. The Bucs answered back in their half of the inning, scoring on a throw to home that went awry. The game was tied at 3-3 after six innings of play.
ETSU got their first lead of the game in the bottom of the seventh. A three-run home run put them up 6-3 through seven innings.
The RedHawks came up in the top of the ninth inning facing a three-run deficit. Miami cut into the lead when Steve Sada doubled in Gary Russo, who had reached just prior on a leadoff single. The RedHawks came within one when Matt Honchel singled, scoring Sada and minimizing ETSU's lead to 6-5. The Red & White got the tying run to second with two outs, but a strikeout ended their chances of completing an impressive comeback.
The RedHawks return to the diamond tomorrow for the series finale against ETSU. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m.
