RedHawks Outslug Western Michigan with Novak Grand Slam

Saturday, May 2

Kalamazoo, Mich.

1:05 p.m.

Miami University

32-14, 19-7

Western Michigan

21-20, 15-11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Miami	0	0	1	0	0	8	0	3	0	12	15	2
Western Michigan	0	0	0	2	4	1	0	1	0	8	12	0

RedHawks Outslug Western Michigan with Novak Grand Slam

5/2/2026 5:40:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The RedHawks overpowered Western Michigan Saturday in a 12-8 slugfest to secure their eighth conference series win of the year. Ryan Novak was an integral piece at the plate, hitting a grand slam to give the RedHawks the lead in the sixth. Miami improves to 31-14 (19-7 MAC) with the win while the Broncos fall to 21-20 (15-11 MAC).

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Miami loaded the bases in the first with two walks and an HBP, forcing an early pitching change for the Broncos, but were unable to score after hitting into a fielder's choice. In the bottom of the first, starting pitcher Clayton Burke had a one-two-three inning to hold the tie.
The RedHawks walked two more times in the second but couldn't bring any runners around. Burke had another three up, three down inning in the bottom of the second, leaving the final batter looking to end the inning.
Tommy Harrison broke the stalemate in the top of the third, leading off with a solo home run to right field. The Broncos loaded the bases with an HBP and back-to-back singles in the bottom of the third, but the RedHawks turned a double play to squander their rally attempt.
Western Michigan held Miami to one hit in the top of the fourth before taking a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second. The lead came after back-to-back two-out doubles and a throwing error by Miami.
Miami loaded the bases again in the fifth using a walk, single, and HBP, but the Broncos turned a double play that rendered them scoreless. The Broncos proceeded to hit a leadoff triple and score on a throwing error to pull ahead by two runs. A single and a walk put two more runners on and a double to left field scored two more runs. An HBP followed by a sac fly capped off the four-run rally and made it a 6-1 Western Michigan advantage.
Diego Cruz led off the sixth for Miami with a double and advanced to third on a ball-four wild pitch that walked Dominic Krupinski. Marcus Dierks came up with an RBI single to right field to score Cruz and Evan Appelwick followed with an RBI single to left field. After a pitching change, Harrison walked and Novak hit his third homer of the series, a grand slam, to give Miami back the lead at 7-6. Carson Raether then singled and moved to third base as Cruz doubled. Krupinski capped off the eight-run inning with a two-RBI single to right field that made it a 9-6 ballgame. The Broncos scored one run after an HBP and a single in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 9-7.
The RedHawks put two runners on in the top of the seventh with a walk and an HBP but did not score. In the bottom of the seventh, the Broncos recorded one hit, but Byers struck out the final two batters to end the scoreless.
Cruz and Krupinski started the eighth with back-to-back walks and Cruz scored as Appelwick doubled to center field. Novak and Ignacio Gonzalez came aboard via an intentional walk and a walk, respectively, to load the bases. Raether took an HBP to force in Miami's 10th run of the day. The Broncos answered with three singles to score a run of their own in the bottom of the eighth.
In the top of the ninth, Cruz and Appelwick each came up with singles, but Miami was unable to extend the lead. Byers sent down all three batters in the bottom of the ninth, including two on strikes, to halt the Broncos' comeback attempt and secure the series win for Miami.

MIAMI GAME NOTES:

Dierks went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI.
Appelwick went 3-for-7 with two runs and three RBIs.
Novak went 2-for-4 with a run and four RBIs.
Raether went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
Cruz went 2-for-3 with three runs and two doubles.
Krupinski went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs.
Burke recorded the win and improved to 8-1 on the season.
Byers recorded his second save of the season.
The RedHawks outhit the Broncos 15 to 12.
The RedHawks left 19 runners on base and the Broncos left 12 on base.
Miami went 10-for-25 with runners on base and 5-for-17 with runners in scoring position.
Miami had the only two errors of the game.

UP NEXT:
The RedHawks will look for their fifth sweep of the season tomorrow in game three versus the Broncos. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.