RedHawks Show Resolve, Grit Out Win in 11-10 Thriller

Saturday, March 5

Cookeville, Tenn.

3:00 PM

Miami University

5-3

Tennessee Tech

4-5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Miami (OH)	2	0	0	1	2	5	0	1	0	11	14	3
Tennessee Tech	3	0	1	0	2	1	0	3	0	10	12	0

RedHawks Show Resolve, Grit Out Win in 11-10 Thriller

3/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 5, 2016

Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (HTML)

COOKEVILLE, TENN. - The Miami University baseball team came out victorious in a back-and-forth battle with Tennessee Tech Saturday evening, flying by the Golden Eagles 11-10. The win improves the Red & White's record to 5-3 on the year. Miami is also the winners of four straight contests.

The RedHawks, for the fourth-straight game, scored in their opening opportunity at the plate. With two down, Ross Haffey battled back from an 0-2 count to earn a walk. Then, Gary Russo turned on one, belting his fifth home run of the season over the left center wall. The Golden Eagles battled back in the home half of the first. With the bases loaded, a single scored two to knot things up. That was followed by another single, this time for just one run. Through one, TTU held a 3-2 edge.

Tennessee Tech doubled their lead in the bottom half of the third, scoring on a wild pitch and moving ahead, 4-2 through three. The RedHawks answered by getting one back in the top of the fourth, scoring on a scorcher by Jake Romano that glanced off of the first baseman's glove and into right field. Chad Sedio scored on the play after reaching previously on a leadoff walk.

Miami moved back in front in the top of the fifth. Steve Sada got things started with a single to right. Then, after an out, Haffey singled through the left side, putting runners on first and second. After another out, Adam Yacek ripped a single through the right side after falling down 0-2, scoring Sada. With men on first and second again, Sedio walked to load the bases, which was followed by another walk, this time by Dallas Hall. Haffey scored on the bases loaded walk, giving the Red & White a 5-4 lead. The Golden Eagles fired back in their half of the inning, scoring on back-to-back one-run singles. After five innings of play, TTU held a slim 6-5 edge.

The Red & White were firing on all cylinders in the top of the sixth. Romano led it off with a triple and then scored on a passed ball. After Sada walked and Tyler Harris got hit by a pitch, Haffey also walked to chuck the bases. Next, with no out, Russo grounded into a double play but it allowed Sada to score. The next at bat, Yacek singled through the right, scoring Harris. Following a Sedio walk, Hall lined one to left center, scoring both Sedio and Yacek. Kyle Winkler came in to pinch hit the next at bat, eventually reaching on a hit by pitch. With runners on second and third, Miami captured their final run of the inning when Hall came in to score from third on a passed ball. When all was said and done, the RedHawks put up five to take a 10-6 lead after five and a half. The Golden Eagles got one back in the bottom half on a double to left. After six, MU was clinging to a 10-7 lead.

Miami tacked on one in the away half of the eighth. Russo led off the inning with a single to the shortstop. After a sac bunt by Yacek, a Sedio hit by pitch and a strikeout, Hayden Senger cranked one under the glove of the TTU third baseman, scoring Russo from second. Things got tight in the bottom of the eighth as the Golden Eagles pulled to within one. Miami led 11-10 after eight innings.

Ryan Marske tossed the final two innings for Miami, striking out three and earning his third save of the season. Freshman Cole Gnetz got his first career start Saturday, going three innings, allowing four runs on three hits while striking out four.

The RedHawks go for the series sweep Sunday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. ET.