RedHawks Top Broncos in Sunday Pitcher's Duel
5/6/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Miami baseball team collected its sixth conference series win in seven weekends as it topped Western Michigan, 3-1, Sunday afternoon.
The RedHawks improve to 28-16 (13-8 MAC) on the season while the Broncos drop to 20-21 (9-10 MAC).
MU starting pitcher Gus Graham was brilliant again. He went seven innings and allowed just one run on four hits. He picked up the win to move to 5-0 on the year. Over his last three starts, Graham has amassed 25 innings of work and has given up just four total runs. He has also walked just six and struck out 20 over that span with opposing hitters batting just .145 against him.
WMU starting pitcher Jacob Piechota was just as good Sunday. He allowed just one hit on the day but unfortunately for the Broncos it was a Ross Haffey solo blast in the top of the sixth.
The Red & White doubled their advantage in the top of the eighth. Parker Massman led off the inning by drawing a walk, got to second on a Jordan Stephens sacrifice bunt and reached third thanks to a Cristian Tejada single. Massman was promptly brought in to score on a Haffey safety squeeze sacrifice bunt. WMU finally got on the board in the bottom half of the eighth, scoring a single tally on an RBI single. After cutting the deficit to 2-1, the Broncos had their chances to tie or take the lead as they had the bases loaded with nobody out. Andy Almquist, who came on to pitch for MU just prior to the Bronco RBI single, struck out two batters and got a foul out to escape the jam and preserve the lead.
Now nursing just a 2-1 advantage, the RedHawks were able to get some insurance in the top of the ninth. Will Vogelgesang reached on a one-out walk and went first to third on a Kyle Winkler single. Spencer Dull then came on to pinch hit and laid down another successful safety squeeze, driving in the speedy Vogelgesang from third to hand Miami a 3-1 edge.
Shane Smith earned the save for the 'Hawks, his third of 2018, after pitching a scoreless final 1.1 innings.
With the road portion of the season's schedule in the books, Miami will close the regular season with a seven-game home stand. The upcoming week features four of those contests, starting with Ball State at 6 p.m. on Tuesday in a midweek non-conference matchup. The 'Hawks then host Central Michigan for the weekend, starting on Friday at 5 p.m.
