RedHawks Drop Shootout to Bowling Green
4/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The RedHawks (5-23, 3-6 MAC) fell to Bowling Green, 18-12 Sunday in a series finale shootout. Miami scored in six of nine innings, while the Falcons scored in all but one of their at-bats.
The Falcons jumped on the RedHawks early. In the bottom of the first, a single and then back-to-back home runs allowed five runs to cross the plate.
The Red & White responded in the top of the third. Miami’s first run come on a single by Ryan Elble that scored Jake Romano from second. The ‘Hawks struck again two batters later when Matt Honchel hit a three-run home run to right field. The homer is the first of his already decorated career. The RedHawks successfully cut the Falcon lead to 5-4 through two and a half innings of play.
BG widened their lead in the bottom half of the third on back-to-back sac flies. Through three, the Falcons were clinging to a 7-4 lead.
The RedHawks responded again in the top of the fourth when Scott Slappey hit a two-run double to right center, scoring Romano and Gary Russo. Much like the third inning, BG answered the Red & White offense, scoring a run on a solo shot to left center. The Falcon lead stood at 8-6 through four.
In the top of the fifth and for the third inning in a row, the Miami offense made some noise. Honchel lead off the inning with a home run, his second of the game. Four batters later, a Russo single allowed Max Andresen to score, tying the game at eight apiece. However, in the bottom of the fifth, the Falcons scored on a wild pitch to take a 9-8 advantage.
The RedHawks took their first lead of the game in the top of the sixth on back-to-back sac flies by Adam Yacek and Andresen. The Red & White took a 10-9 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Falcons, for the fourth inning in a row, answered the RedHawks. Back-to-back doubles and then a single allowed BG to plate three runs, giving them the lead back, 12-10.
In the top of the seventh inning, for the first time since the second, the RedHawks were unable to generate any runs. BG added three runs in the bottom half of the inning on three straight hits. The Falcon lead was stretched to 15-10 through seven innings of play.
In the top of the eighth, Miami’s third home run of the made it 15-12. This time, it was Adam Yacek with the homer. It was his fourth of the season.
Once again, the Falcons responded in their half of the inning. A triple and a sac fly plated three more runs for BG, putting them up 18-12 through eight.
The Red & White were unable to rally in the top of the ninth, falling 18-12.
The RedHawks return to action Tuesday as they travel to Marshall for a matchup with the Thundering Herd. Then, on Wednesday, the Red & White return home to host Wright State. First pitch for that game is scheduled for 6 p.m.
