MU Opens MAC Play With 8-5 Win Over Broncos
3/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The RedHawks (3-14, 1-0 MAC) earned an 8-5 win over the Broncos of Western Michigan (7-10, 0-1 MAC) on Friday, effectively opening their all-important Mid-American Conference schedule.
The RedHawks scored the game's first run in the top of the second. With Ryan Elble on third and Adam Yacek on second, Max Andresen scorched a line drive to center field. The WMU center fielder appeared to drop the ball but Andresen was still called out. However, due to heads-up baserunning, Elble was waiting on third and ready to tag up and he scored on the play. The RedHawks held a 1-0 lead through one and a half innings.
The Broncos responded with some runs of their own in the bottom of the third. Their first came on a passed ball with the bases loaded. The second came on an infield single, also with the bases loaded. After three, the Bronco lead stood at 2-1.
The RedHawks came back swinging in the top of the fourth. With two outs and Yacek on first, Jake Romano hit a deep fly ball down the left field line that dropped for a double. Yacek came all the way around from first to score. The very next at-bat, Andresen hit a line drive just over the second baseman’s glove for a single. Romano scored from second on the play and Andresen notched his second RBI of the day.
The RedHawks started the top of the fifth with a leadoff triple from Kendall Johnson, his second extra base hit of the day. Then, Steve Sada hit an infield single that brought in Johnson. The Miami lead stood at 4-2 through four and half innings played.
The Red & White extended their lead in the top of the sixth. With Elble on third and Yacek on second, Andresen hit a deep fly ball to right center that resulted in a sac fly that scored Elble. Miami held a 5-2 lead through five and a half innings.
The ‘Hawks cushioned their lead in the top of the seventh. With Sada on first and two outs, Matt Honchel hit a double to deep left, scoring Sada all the way rom first. Honchel ended up on third after advancing on the throw to home plate as WMU tried to gun down Sada. Miami led 6-2 after six and a half innings.
Ryan Powers (W, 2-4) tossed a gem for the Red & White. His final stat line was 119 pitches, six and a third innings pitched, three runs (two earned) and five strikeouts.
The Broncos cut the Miami lead in half on a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh. After seven innings, Miami was holding onto a 6-4 lead.
Miami would make it 7-4 in the top of the eighth as Romano scored from second on a double by Scott Slappey. In the top of the ninth, Chad Sedio hit a one-out triple and then Honchel hit an infield single, scoring Sedio and pushing the lead to 8-4.
WMU plated a run in the bottom of the ninth but Will Schierholz closed it out and Miami earned the victory, taking a big first step in what will be a competitive conference schedule.
The RedHawks return to action tomorrow at 2 p.m. as they look for the series win over the Broncos. Jacob Banks is set to take the hill for Miami.
