OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University baseball team gained a split of its doubleheader with Ball State on Sunday afternoon. The RedHawks dropped the opener, 6-1. Miami then overcame a three-run deficit to take a 7-5 victory in the nightcap. The 'Hawks are now 30-9 overall and 11-4 in the Mid-American Conference. The Cardinals are now 25-14 overall and 9-4 in the MAC.
GAME 1
The Cardinals were the aggressors early in the first game, scoring one run in the top of the first, three in the top of the second and one more in the top of the third to build a 5-0 advantage. Junior starting pitcher
Spencer Mraz and freshman reliever
Tyler Bosma helped settle things down from there, only allowing Ball State three hits over the final six innings and one run in the top of the ninth.
The RedHawks had several chances to score in the game, but were unable to get the timely hit. They left 12 runners on base during the contest.
Miami was able to break through in the bottom of the ninth. With two out and redshirt junior left fielder
Kyle Winkler on second base, junior shortstop
Will Vogelgesang singled through the left side to score him and make it 6-1.
Redshirt junior third baseman
Jordan Stephens finished the opener 3-for-5, while junior second baseman
Landon Stephens was 2-for-3 with a walk.
GAME 2
Miami got on the board in the bottom of the first of the nightcap. With two outs,
Landon Stephens and
Jordan Stephens drew back-to-back walks. Junior catcher
Cal Elvers then singled up the middle to score
Landon Stephens and make it 1-0.
A two-out, two-run double in the top of the third gave Ball State the advantage, but the RedHawks tied the score in the bottom half of the inning off a crazy play. With the bases loaded and one out, junior center fielder
Parker Massman hit a pop up toward second base that looked like it might be caught but ended up dropping. Since the runners had been holding, they had to scramble to advance. The Cardinals got out number two with the force at second, and then got the third out on the tag at third. But because they had eliminated the force with the first part of the play,
Jordan Stephens crossed home plate and the run counted to make it 2-2.
The Cardinals took control with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. They looked to add more in the top of the fifth when they got runners at first and second with no out. Miami got a double play, but a walk put runners and first and third with two outs. Senior pitcher
Andy Almquist came into the game in relief at that point and got the key strikeout to keep the score 5-2.
Massman led off the bottom of the sixth by reaching on a fielding error. After a pair of outs, Vogelgesang singled to right field to move Massman to third.
Landon Stephens then hit an infield single to third base for an RBI scoring Massman. On the play the Ball State third baseman threw the ball away, allowing Vogelgesang to score and cut the deficit to 5-4.
The RedHawks took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Elvers led off with a single through the right side. Freshman designated hitter
Cole Andrews walked. After a strikeout, a walk by Massman loaded the bases with one out. Ball State got the second out, but Winkler drew a walk to force home Elvers and tie the score. Vogelgesang followed with a single to right center that scored Andrews and Massman and put the RedHawks in front, 7-5.
Meanwhile, Almquist kept the Cardinals at bay for a season-high 4.1 innings. He only allowed two hits and struck out five, allowing Miami to hang on for the win.
Vogelgesang finished the nightcap 4-for-5 with two RBIs and one run scored. Elvers was 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored.
Miami returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts Xavier. First pitch is at 5 p.m. and it will be streamed on RedHawks All-Access for those who have a subscription.
