RedHawks Edge UMass in 9-8 Thriller

Friday, May 8

Oxford, Ohio

2 p.m.

Miami University

33-15, 20-8

Massachusetts

17-25, 12-16

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Massachusetts	4	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	0	8	12	1
Miami (Ohio)	0	0	2	1	0	4	2	0	X	9	9	1

5/8/2026 5:30:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

OXFORD, Ohio – Miami defeated UMass 9-8 Friday in a back-and forth thriller after scoring four runs in the sixth to open up the game. Austin Berggren closed out the contest for Miami, pitching 2.0 scoreless innings to secure his seventh save of the season. The RedHawks improve to 33-15 (20-8 MAC) with the victory, while the Minutemen fall to 17-25 (12-16 MAC).

HOW IT HAPPENED:

UMass scored quickly in the top of the first, starting the game with a walk and taking a 1-0 lead on a double. A single put runners at the corners, and a groundout brought the second run of the day home. The Minutemen doubled their lead to 4-0 with a shot to left-center and pitched three quick outs in the bottom of the first to hold Miami scoreless early.
Miami surrendered two hits in the top of the second but turned a double play to get out of the inning unscathed. Ryan Novak led off the bottom of the second with a walk and advanced to third on a single by Cruz, but the RedHawks were unable to bring anyone home.
Carson Byers entered the game in relief in the third. He threw three strikeouts to end the inning, but UMass brought one run across after two singles and a Miami error to make it 5-0. In the bottom of the inning, Dominic Krupinski hit his sixth home run of the year, a solo shot just left of the right-field foul pole, to put Miami on the board. One at bat later, Evan Appelwick hit his 13th round-tripper of the season to pull within three runs, 5-2.
Byers made three quick outs in the top of the fourth, holding UMass to one walk. Diego Cruz singled with one out in the bottom of the inning and advanced to third as Jamie Rasmussen singled to left-center. A wild pitch scored Cruz and made it a 5-3 ballgame.
Byers had a one-two-three inning in the fifth, sending the final two batters down on strikes. Miami put two runners on with two walks but finished the inning scoreless.
UMass put up one double in the sixth, but the RedHawks' defense rendered them scoreless. After two quick outs in the bottom of the sixth, Rasmussen singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Krupinski walked and Marcus Dierks took an HBP, loading the bases. Appelwick walked to force in a run and put the tying run at third base. Tommy Harrison was then hit by a pitch to level the score at five runs apiece, and Novak delivered a two-RBI single to right field to give the RedHawks their first lead at 7-5.
The Minutemen came up with a leadoff double in the seventh and scored with a single through the left side. Another double put runners on second and third, and a two-RBI single gave UMass back the lead, 8-7.
Cruz took an HBP and advanced to second on an error to start off the bottom of the seventh for Miami. Cruz slid around the tag to score off an RBI single by Krupinski, tying the game again at 8-8. Krupinski advanced on a fielder's choice and scored on a wild pitch to reclaim the lead, 9-8.
Miami held the Minutemen to one baserunner in the top of the eighth. Ignacio Gonzalez singled with one out in the bottom of the eighth, but no runs scored for Miami.
Berggren saw three up, three down in the ninth to close out the 9-8 win and secure his seventh save of the season.

MIAMI GAME NOTES:

Cruz went 2-for-4 with two runs.
Rasmussen went 2-for-3 with a run.
Berggren pitched 2.0 scoreless, hitless innings.
Miami was outhit 12 to nine.
Miami took six walks compared to three for UMass.
Miami left 11 on base compared to six for UMass.

UP NEXT:
The RedHawks will face UMass again tomorrow and look to clinch their ninth MAC series victory of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15 p.m.