CINCINNATI – The Miami University baseball team jumped to a big early lead and then held on to secure a 7-6 victory over Wright State in the semifinal game of the Joe Nuxhall Classic on Tuesday. The RedHawks improve to 25-6 on the season, while the Raiders fall to 21-11.

Sophomore center fielder Cristian Tejada got the game off to a quick start with a leadoff triple in the top of the first. Junior shortstop Will Vogelgesang drove him in on a sac fly. After WSU recorded an out, redshirt junior Jordan Stephens hit a solo shot over the right field wall. His second home run of the season put Miami on top, 2-0.

The 'Hawks added three more in the top of the second. With two out and no one on, sophomore catcher Nate Stolze singled to left center. Sophomore right fielder Parker Massman then hit a triple to score him. After a walk to Tejada, a single by Vogelgesang brought home Massman. Junior third baseman Landon Stephens followed with a single to center field to score Tejada and make it 5-1.

Wright State got one back in the bottom of the second, but the RedHawks made it 6-1 in the top of the third when Tejada singled up the middle to score redshirt freshman left fielder Reid Norberg.

The high-powered Raider offense was able to get back in the game in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run home run, followed by scoring off a Miami error that cut their deficit to 6-4.

In the top of the sixth, the Red and White would get an important insurance run. With two outs junior designated hitter Cal Elvers legged out an infield hit. He then stole second, which allowed junior first baseman Charlie Harrigan to single him home and make it 7-4. Wright State responded with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull within one at 7-6.

The Raiders had their biggest threat in the bottom of the eighth when they loaded the bases with only one out. Senior pitcher Shane Smith came out in relief and immediately got them to bounce into the 6-4-3 double play to end the threat. He then struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth to secure his third save of the season.

Tejada finished the game 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Vogelgesang was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Jordan Stephens, Elvers and Harrigan each also had two hits for the RedHawks.

Redshirt junior pitcher Jon Meyerring (1-0) earned the win in the designated bullpen game after allowing one run on one hit in 2.0 innings pitched.

Miami is in the championship game of the Joe Nuxhall Classic for the fourth straight year and will be looking to earn its third straight title. The RedHawks will take on Cincinnati, which defeated Xavier 2-1 in the other semifinal game. The game between the RedHawks and the Bearcats will begin at approximately 6:30 p.m., or 40 minutes after the conclusion of the consolation game between Wright State and Xavier.