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ATHENS, Ohio - The RedHawks inched closer to locking down the No. 3 seed in the upcoming MAC Tournament when they defeated rival Ohio, 10-2, Thursday evening. The win improves Miami's record to 25-26 (13-9 MAC) on the year. With the potential for inclement weather on the horizon, the Red & White will wrap up their series with the Bobcats in a Friday doubleheader that is set to begin at 10 a.m. A win in either of those two games will give MU the third overall seed in the upcoming conference tournament in Avon, Ohio.

After a pitchers' duel in the first five innings, the RedHawks finally broke through in the top of the sixth. Ross Haffey (walk) and Gary Russo (single) each reached base to start off the frame. Then, Chad Sedio put down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over. After a Tyler Harris walk loaded the bases, Dallas Hall lifted a fly ball to left, which was deep enough for Haffey to tag up and score on the sacrifice fly. Hayden Senger followed that up with a single to right center that plated Russo. Jake Romano capped off the Miami sixth by hitting a hard ball to the left side that the OU shortstop could not handle, enabling Harris to come home. The Red & White possessed a 3-0 lead through five and a half innings played.

The Bobcats got on the board in the home half of the seventh when a single through the right side plated one. At the end of seven innings of play, Miami held a 3-1 edge.

Miami regained its three-run lead in the top of the eighth. Sedio led things off by doubling down the right field line and was moved over to third on a deep fly out by Harris the next at bat. Then, Hall grounded out to the shortstop but Sedio sprinted home on the play. Through seven and a half, the 'Hawks were maintaining a 4-1 lead.

Some two-out hitting in the top of the ninth helped the RedHawks to a more comfortable lead. Steve Sada scored the first run of the inning when Haffey singled him in. Then, after Russo worked a walk, Sedio doubled down the right field line to bring Haffey around. A wild pitch during Harris' at bat scored Russo and advanced Sedio to third. Harris then brought Sedio home on a single through the left side. Another Miami hit, a double by Hall, put runners on second and third. Senger finished off the scoring with a double to left center that plated both Harris and Hall. In total, MU had earned six runs on five hits to give them a 10-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. Ohio got one run in the home half of the final inning on a wild pitch.

The RedHawks got a solid start from pitcher Gus Graham. The sophomore threw five scoreless innings and allowed just two hits in the process. In relief, Shane Smith tossed two frames, allowing one run on three hits. Nick Ernst and Ryan Marske each chipped in an inning of work.