Novak Walks Off UMass 10-8 on Senior Day

Saturday, May 9

Oxford, Ohio

1:15 p.m.

Miami University

34-15, 21-8

Massachusetts

17-26, 12-17

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Massachusetts	0	0	0	2	3	3	0	0	0	8	11	2
Miami (Ohio)	1	1	0	2	1	0	0	3	2	10	14	3

5/9/2026 5:24:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

OXFORD, Ohio – The RedHawks walked off a 10-8 series-clinching win on senior day this Saturday afternoon with a two-run home run from Ryan Novak in the ninth. The RedHawks improve to 34-15 (21-8 MAC) with the victory, while the Minutemen fall to 17-26 (12-17 MAC) with the loss.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

UMass came up with a leadoff single in the top of the first, but Matthew Buffington and Diego Cruz caught the runner stealing second. Clayton Burke quickly pitched a flyout and a swinging strikeout to retire the side and send Marcus Dierks to the plate for Miami. Dierks led off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Tommy Harrison hit a pop-up to the infield but recorded a sac fly as two UMass players collided and Dierks slid to narrowly avoid a late throw at home and give Miami a 1-0 advantage.
Burke saw three up and three down in the top of the second, including one strikeout. Carson Raether led off for Miami in the DH spot and singled to right-center before advancing to second on a groundout. He stole third and, on a throwing error, came home to score and make the lead 2-0. Cruz and Buffington each followed with a base hit but could not come around and score.
The Minutemen threatened in the third, leading off with a base hit to left-center and moving the runner to second with another single, but Burke and the defense used a fielder's choice to record the inning's third out. In the bottom of the inning, Evan Appelwick reached first on an error and advanced on a single by Harrison, but both runners were caught in an inning-ending pickle.
The first pitch of the fourth inning was a home run to left-center that brought UMass within one run, 2-1. The next batter doubled to left and advanced before scoring on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at two runs each. The Minutemen hit another double, but a strikeout ended the rally. Raether walked to start the bottom of the fourth and jogged home as Ignacio Gonzalez hit his ninth home run of the year off the scoreboard in left-center and gave Miami back a 4-2 lead.
UMass started the fifth with a single, walk, and fielder's choice to put runners at the corners. A wild pitch sent one run home to score. On the next at bat, Miami committed two separate errors, allowing the batter to reach first and advance twice and the baserunner to score and tie the game at four runs apiece. The Minutemen then delivered a single to center to claim a 5-4 lead.
Dierks sped his way to a standup triple to lead off the bottom of the fifth and scored on the next at bat as Appelwick grounded out and recorded an RBI. This evened the score to make it a 5-5 ballgame.
Miami fell into a jam in the sixth, surrendering a walk and an HBP to the first two batters before giving up an RBI double up the middle to give UMass a one-run advantage. A wild pitch stretched the lead to two runs. Still with no outs, a walk put runners at the corners. Jake Tedesco came in to pitch in relief and recorded two strikeouts, but a third run scored after Miami tried to throw out a runner stealing and committed an error. Buffington outstretched his glove over the visitors' dugout to catch a ball in foul territory and stop the scoring rally. Miami had no baserunners in the bottom.
After a one-two-three inning by Tedesco in the top of the seventh, Miami loaded the bases with no outs via a single by Buffington, a double by Dominic Krupinski, and a walk by Dierks. A popup, strikeout, and flyout on the next three at bats squandered the comeback attempt.
UMass took a walk with one out in the top of the eighth, but Tedesco pitched a strikeout, and Buffington threw the baserunner out at second as he attempted to steal. Raether led off for Miami with a single to center field. With one out, Cruz doubled down the right-field line, scoring Raether. He advanced to third with two outs on a wild pitch. Krupinski jolted life into McKie Field, blasting a two-run homer to right field to tie the game 8-8 and shift the momentum Miami's way.
Austin Berggren let up one hit in the top of the ninth but sent down three batters with a groundout and two strikeouts.
In the bottom of the ninth, Harrison walked. Novak stepped up to the plate and hammered a home run to deep right-center, walking off a 10-8 win and sending the home dugout into a frenzied celebration.

MIAMI GAME NOTES:

Dierks went 3-for-4 with two runs and a walk.
Raether went 2-for-2 with three runs and a walk.
Cruz went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
Buffington went 2-for-4.
Krupinski went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI.
Miami outhit UMass 14 to 10.
Miami had three errors and UMass had two.
The RedHawks left six on base while the Minutemen left seven on base.
Miami Baseball honored 18 seniors and graduate students who are receiving degrees or certificates this May.
With today's win and Eastern Michigan's win over Kent State, Miami is now tied for first place in the MAC standings with four conference games to go.