Miami Ohio University Athletics
Graham Goes the Distance Again, Miami Claims Series Over Ohio
4/29/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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OXFORD, Ohio - Senior starting pitcher Gus Graham was dominant on the bump as the Miami baseball team earned a 4-2, series-clinching win over rival Ohio on Sunday afternoon.
Graham collected his second-straight complete game effort, allowing just two runs on three hits. He struck out a career-high 11 and retired 20 straight batters after giving up a solo homer in the first inning. Graham recorded seven frames in which he set down the side in order. The victory upped Miami's record to 25-15 on the season, including an 11-7 mark in Mid-American Conference play.
Ohio's one-run advantage lasted until the bottom of the fifth, when the RedHawk offense finally broke through for a trio of runs. Cristian Tejada got on via a one-out walk and Dallas Hall was hit by a pitch to get MU a pair of baserunners. Ross Haffey followed with a single through the right side, allowing the speedy Tejada to score from second easily. Hall went first to third on the play. Hayden Senger then put down a sacrifice bunt to move Haffey to second, setting up a two-out, two-run single to right by Landon Stephens. The frame netted the Red & White a 3-1 lead through five.
The Bobcats pulled back to within one late with an RBI single in the top of the eighth. However, Miami had a response. In the home half of the inning, Stephens earned a leadoff walk, got to second on a Will Vogelgesang sacrifice bunt and scored on a Kyle Winkler two-out double to deep left center. The insurance tally handed the `Hawks a 4-2 lead. Graham closed the contest with a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth, giving Miami its fifth conference series win in six chances.
The Red & White are back home again on Tuesday when they host Cincinnati at 6 p.m. The team then hits the road for the weekend to head to Western Michigan for a three-game set.
