OXFORD, Ohio — The Miami baseball team dropped a pair of games to Central Michigan Sunday, falling by the scores of 5-4 and 8-2 in an afternoon doubleheader. The RedHawks' record slips to 7-10 (4-3 MAC), while CMU improves to 8-8 (4-1 MAC).
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game One)
- Held hitless through four innings, Central Michigan broke through in the top of the fifth to go on top. An RBI single, a pair of bases-loaded walks, and a two-run single to right gave the Chippewas a 5-0 advantage.
- Miami responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning, loading the bases on a single by Brian Zapp, a bunt single by Blake Buzzeo, and a walk to JJ Woolwine. Nick Neibauer then drove in Zapp for the RedHawks' first run of the game on a fielder's choice to make it 5-1.
- The RedHawks trimmed the deficit to 5-3 in the sixth inning. Benji Brokemond tripled to right-center and scored on an RBI single by William Escala. Escala moved to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a single by Zach MacDonald, and came around to score on an sacrifice fly by Zapp.
- Miami pulled within one run in its final at-bat, using a Neibauer triple and RBI groundout by Cole Andrews to cut the deficit to 5-4, but the RedHawks' attempted rally fell just short.
MIAMI GAME NOTES (Game One)
- Pitchers Tyler Ronevich and Kenten Egbert combined to record seven strikeouts and allow just three hits in seven innings.
- Escala went 2-for-3 with an RBI and one run scored.
- Eight different RedHawks recorded base hits.
- Miami hit two triples in the same game for the first time since April 11, 2021 vs. Western Michigan.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game Two)
- The Chippewas got on the board early in the second game, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a double to left-center and stretching their lead to 3-0 with an unearned run in the third inning.
- Miami picked up its first run in the bottom of the third, as Zapp reached on a bunt single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and came around to score after a Brokemond infield single that led to a CMU error.
- Central Michigan added an unearned run in the top of the seventh to make it 4-1.
- Brian Zapp homered to right field in the bottom of the inning to pull the RedHawks within 4-2.
- The visitors broke the game open in the eighth, with a bases-loaded double capping a four-run frame to conclude the scoring.
MIAMI GAME NOTES (Game Two)
- Zapp (2-3) and Brokemond (2-4) had multi-hit games for the RedHawks, with Zapp scoring both Miami runs and reaching base three times.
- Zapp's home run was his first of the season and the seventh of his career.
- Escala and Buzzeo each stole a base for Miami.
UP NEXT:
The RedHawks wrap up their series with Central Michigan on Monday, March 21. First pitch in Oxford is set for 1 p.m.