OXFORD, Ohio – After a back-and-forth game featuring several lead changes, a walk-off single by junior third baseman
Landon Stephens gave the Miami University baseball team a 7-6 victory in the opening game of its series with Eastern Michigan. The RedHawks improve to 19-5 overall and 3-1 in the Mid-American Conference. The Eagles fall to 5-20-1 overall and 0-4 in the MAC.
Despite getting several baserunners, Miami was unable to get one across early. Eastern Michigan took advantage with two triples and a single to score two runs in the top of the third to give it a 2-0 advantage.
Miami got one back in the bottom of the fourth when freshman designated hitter
Cole Andrews hit a line shot over the left field wall for his third home run of the year. It was a solo shot that cut the deficit to 2-1.
Freshman pitcher
Sam Bachman made sure it stayed that way for the next several innings. He ended up pitching the first five of the game, allowing two runs on six hits, while striking out six.
In the bottom of the sixth, redshirt junior left fielder
Kyle Winkler led off with a ground rule double that hopped the centerfield wall. After
Landon Stephens drew a walk, a sacrifice bunt by junior shortstop
Will Vogelgesang moved them each up a base. That allowed Andrews to hit one out to left field, just deep enough for Winkler to come home on the sac fly and tie the score.
The Eagles grabbed the lead right back in the top of the seventh by manufacturing a run off of three hits. In the bottom of the frame, redshirt junior second baseman
Jordan Stephens led off with a single through the right side. Junior catcher
Cal Elvers then hit one over the right field wall for his second home run of the season to give Miami its first lead of the game at 4-3. Later in the inning,
Landon Stephens would single home sophomore centerfielder
Cristian Tejada to make it 5-3.
EMU did not give up as it led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Another couple hits, plus a RedHawk error would allow three runs to come home and give the Eagles the advantage back at 6-5.
In the bottom of the eighth, junior first baseman
Charlie Harrigan led off with a walk.
Jordan Stephens then followed with a double to left center. Harrigan hustled all the way from first base and slid in under the tag to tie the score at six.
In the top of the ninth, senior pitcher
Andy Almquist retired the Eagles in order to give Miami a chance to win the game in the bottom of the frame. Tejada and Winkler were each hit by pitches to put runners on first and second with no outs.
Landon Stephens then singled to left center to score Tejada and give the RedHawks a 7-6, walk-off win.
Landon Stephens finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Tejada was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Winkler and
Jordan Stephens also had two hits for the RedHawks. Almquist earned the victory after his perfect ninth on the mound.
Miami's series with Eastern Michigan continues on Saturday.
Due to the threat of inclement weather, the start time for the game has been pushed up to 1 p.m.
