RedHawks Pick Up Two Wins in Doubleheader vs. NIU

Friday, March 14

Oxford, Ohio

12 p.m.

Miami University

8-9, 3-1

Northern Illinois

7-8, 1-3

Northern illinois

Miami

RedHawks Pick Up Two Wins in Doubleheader vs. NIU

3/14/2025 6:30:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

OXFORD, Ohio – The RedHawks clinched their second conference series victory Friday with a pair of wins over Northern Illinois, 8-2 and 6-5. In game one, Evan Appelwick went 4-for-4 and hit two home runs and Cooper Katskee pitched six hitless innings to record the win. In game two, Dillon Baker hit a walkoff home run to supplement Ryan Novak's game-tying three-run homer in the eighth. Miami moves to 9-9 (4-1 MAC) with the wins while NIU drops to 7-9 (1-4 MAC).

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1):

NIU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after an RBI single.
The Huskies struck again in the top of the second, scoring one run on two singles.
Miami put together a four-run rally in the bottom of the second to take a 4-2 lead. Appelwick singled to left center and stole second. Drew Phillips hit a bunt single, his first hit as a RedHawk, and Blake Buzzeo singled to score one run. Baker hit a two-RBI single. Zarlingo capped off the scoring streak with another RBI single.
Appelwick tacked on one run in the bottom of the third with his seventh home run of the season.
Zarlingo crushed his first round-tripper of the season in the bottom of the fifth, a solo homer that made it 6-2.
Appelwick hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh after Ty Batusich doubled to left, putting the RedHawks up 8-2.

MIAMI GAME NOTES (GAME ONE):

Baker went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run.
Zarlingo went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run.
Batusich went 2-for-4 with one run.
Appelwick went 4-for-4 with two home runs, three RBIs, and three total runs.
Katskee pitched 6.0 innings in relief for the RedHawks. He gave up no hits, no runs and just one walk.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2):

The Huskies scored first again, taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the second on an RBI single and a two-run homer.
Miami answered with one run in the bottom of the second. Dominic Krupinski hit his third home run ball of the season to make it 3-1.
Troy Benko recorded three outs with just five pitches in the bottom of the fourth.
NIU scored one run in the top of the seventh on a fielder's choice.
The Huskies scored one run in the top of the eighth on a double, but Miami threw a runner out at home plate to stop any further damage.
Miami tied the ballgame at 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth. Batusich and Appelwick both singled and David Novak scored one run on an RBI double. Ryan Novak hit his first home run of the year, a three-run homer.
Landon Fulk sent down three straight batters in the top of the ninth to maintain the tie.
Baker homered on a 1-0 count for a 6-5 walk-off RedHawk win.

MIAMI GAME NOTES (GAME TWO):

Baker went 2-for-5 with a walk-off home run.
Batusich went 2-for-3 with one run.
Fulk pitched the ninth inning for Miami, giving up no hits and no walks and striking out one batter.

UP NEXT: Miami will attempt to sweep NIU this Sunday in game three of their series. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.