Miami's bats definitely came out to play some championship ball. The RedHawks (34-24) pounded Western Michigan (26-30) for 14 hits in a 12-2 victory in the second round of the MAC Tournament Thursday night in Chillicothe. They scored thrice in the third and fourth innings, and four times in the ninth. Leftfielder Bryce Redeker led the attack with three hits and three RBIs, while thirdbaseman Brad Gschwind and shortstop Ryan Kaup both provided home runs. On the other side of the ball, the 'Hawks got a stellar outing from Tyler Melling on the mound. He became the first RedHawk not named Mac Thoreson to throw a complete game this season, scattering six hits and walking just two while striking out six in a dominant performance.
The RedHawks got started quickly with runs in the first two innings. Miami's first three batters all drew walks to start the game (though one was erased on a pickoff play), and Redeker delivered a one-out single for the early 1-0 advantage. Then in the second, Kaup mashed a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left field for his first home run of the year, and an easy 2-0 lead.
However, the Broncos were quick to respond with their own fireworks in the bottom of the inning. Melling gave up a leadoff single and then made his only mistake of the day, serving up a two-run bomb that tied up the game.
Not easily impressed, Miami wasted no time retaking the lead. Gschwind and catcher Adam Weisenburger led off the third with back-to-back singles. With men on the corners and one out, Redeker singled in one run to put Miami back on top at 3-2. A failed pickoff attempt at first base brought in another run and put Redeker all the way over on third base, where he scored from on designated hitter Brooks Fiala's sac fly.
In the fourth, Gschwind stepped up with a man on and delivered his fourth homer of the year. Then after Weisenburger singled into right field and firstbaseman Kyle Weldon reached on an error, Redeker provided another big hit with an RBI double that gave Miami a commanding 8-2 lead.
Things quieted down for a while until the RedHawks capped the night's scoring with a four-spot in the ninth inning. Leading up to that, Melling was on cruise control. He recorded 14 consecutive outs starting in the fourth inning before he gave up a two-out walk in the eighth. (He was ahead in the count 2-1 before he lost the batter on three straight balls.) But that was the only Bronco to reach base after the fourth inning.
The 'Hawks final show of power was all done with two outs in the ninth. Designated hitter Kevin Bower got things going with a double. Then rightfielder Ryan Curl followed with a single that scored pinch-runner Pat Glass. After Kaup drew a four-pitch walk, centerfielder Ryan Brenner doubled in Curl. Secondbaseman Jon Edgington then brought the scoring to a close with a two-run single.
Miami now gets to play the waiting game. The Broncos will play No. 2 seed Central Michigan (30-26) in an elimination game Friday at 12:30, and the winner of that game will then face Miami Friday night for the right to move on to the title game. The Broncos did already defeat the Chippewas 9-7 just one round prior, but they'll be hard-pressed to pull off another upset. Regardless of which team wins that game, the victor will have to beat Miami twice in order to reach the MAC Championship game. And we all know that's not going to happen.
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