BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Miami University baseball team had an offensive explosion in completing a series sweep of Bowling Green with a pair of victories on Saturday. In the opener, junior pitcher Spencer Mraz nearly threw a no-hitter, while Miami pounded out 20 hits in a 15-2 victory. The RedHawks continued to score runs as they outlasted the Falcons, 10-8, in the nightcap. With its fifth straight victory, Miami is now 29-6 overall and 10-2 in the Mid-American Conference. Bowling Green is 12-19 overall and 5-7 in the MAC.

GAME 1
Mraz was the story of the first game. He did not allow a single hit over the first 7.0 innings, in a bid for Miami's first no-hitter since 1980. He allowed only two walks and barely allowed Bowling Green to make any contact, recording a career-high 13 strikeouts. The Falcons got a leadoff double to open the bottom of the eighth to break up Mraz's no-hitter bid, their only hit of the game. While BGSU would go on to score two runs in that inning on a pair of bases loaded walks, Mraz earned his fifth win of the season, throwing 7.1 innings, allowing two runs on that one hit.

The RedHawks got on the board in the top of the first when redshirt junior second baseman Jordan Stephens doubled home junior shortstop Will Vogelgesang.

Miami broke it open with five runs in the top of the third. After sophomore center fielder Cristian Tejada led off with a double, Vogelgesang was hit by a pitch. Each of them stole a base. Junior third baseman Landon Stephens singled through the left side to score Tejada, while Vogelgesang scored off an error by the Falcons' first baseman. After a single by Jordan Stephens, a double by redshirt junior left fielder Kyle Winkler brought home Landon Stephens and made it 4-0. Jordan Stephens scored on a single by freshman designated hitter Cole Andrews, while Winkler scored despite a RedHawk double play to give Miami a 6-0 advantage.

It stayed that way until the top of the seventh. Redshirt freshman Reid Norberg singled through the left side to score senior designated hitter Mackay Williams. Bases loaded walks by Tejada and Vogelgesang each brought in runs that made it 9-0.

Winkler's fourth home run of the season, a solo shot over the left field wall gave Miami a 10-0 lead.

In the top of the ninth, Jordan Stephens drove in Tejada, Winkler drove in Landon Stephens to make it 12-2. With two runners on, junior catcher Cal Elvers blasted a shot over the left field wall for his fourth home run of the year to make it 15-2 and complete scoring for the game.

Miami had a season-high 20 hits in the game. Tejada, Jordan Stephens and Winkler had three each. Winkler was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three run scored. Eighth different RedHawks finished with multiple hits in the contest.

GAME 2
Miami got on the board quickly in the top of the first when Landon Stephens doubled and then eventually scored on an error. Bowling Green answered with three runs in the bottom of the first to go in front for the first time in the entire series, 3-1.

That lead would be short lived as the RedHawks stormed back for four runs in the top of the second. Elvers led off with a walk. Norberg followed with a single. Each runner moved up a base on a wild pitch. Williams hit an infield single that scored Elvers. A single to left field by Tejada scored Norberg and tied the score at three. Miami went in front after a wild pitch brought home Williams. A sac fly by Jordan Stephens scored Tejada and made it 5-3.

A sac fly by Winkler in the top of the fifth that scored Jordan Stephens and Elvers' second home run of the day, a solo shot in the top of the sixth increased the RedHawk advantage to 7-3.

Meanwhile senior pitcher Jack Corbell had settled down after a rough first inning. He kept the Falcons off the board the next four innings, until they were able to get two back in the bottom of the sixth.
After Bowling Green pulled to within one in the bottom of the seventh, senior closer Andy Almquist came in to the game with one out and two runners on. He was able to retire the side, but not before an infield hit allowed the Falcons to tie the game at seven apiece.

Miami quickly refocused in the top of the eighth. Winkler led off with a single. Andrews was then hit by a pitch. A sac bunt by Elvers moved each of them up a base. After Norberg was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out, sophomore Parker Massman came in to pinch hit. His fielder's choice groundout broke the tie when Winkler came home to score. Andrews would then score on the next play to make it 9-7 when the BGSU first baseman committed an error.

After Almquist put the Falcons down in order in the bottom of the eight, the RedHawks got one more in the top of the ninth when a Winkler sac fly scored Vogelgesang. Bowling Green got one back in the bottom of the frame on a sac fly of its own, but Almquist got a pop up to finish off the 10-8 win.

Winkler finished the game 1-for-3 with three RBIs and one run scored. Tejada, Landon Stephens, Jordan Stephens and Norberg each had two hits for the RedHawks.

Almquist earned his third victory of the season by pitching the final 2.2 innings. He allowed one run on three hits.

Miami returns to action on Tuesday when it travels to Cincinnati for a 6 p.m. contest. The RedHawks will be at home next weekend for an important series against Ball State. Friday's game starts at 5 p.m. and is the annual Walter "Smokey" Alston Night. Saturday's contest is at 4 p.m. and next Sunday's finale is scheduled for 1 p.m.