Second baseman Jon Edgington hit a pair of two-run home runs to key a high-powered RedHawk attack, leading Miami (2-2) to a 12-5 win over West Virginia (2-2) Friday afternoon in Wilmington, NC. The 12 runs were a season-high for the 'Hawks, as were Miami's 15 hits. Miami starting pitcher Mac Thoreson pitched seven innings allowing three earned runs for his first win of the year. He struck out five Mountaineers, and scattered five hits while walking just two batters.
Edgington was one of six 'Hawks to have a multi-hit day. He was one of four with multiple RBI and one of three to draw more than one base on balls, as the RedHawks were issued 10 free passes by West Virginia pitchers.
The 'Hawks struck early, getting four runs in the top of the first inning. Center Fielder Ryan Brenner led off the game with a walk, and then found himself on third base after a steal and a passed ball. But his positioning was made irrelevant when Edgington drove a 2-2 pitch out to left field for the first Miami home run of the season. Left fielder Bryce Redeker kept the inning going with a single and steal, but was forced out at third base on a fielder's choice. Designated hitter Bryan Beaver followed with a triple that drove in catcher Adam Weisenburger. Beaver then came home for a 4-0 advantage on a bunt by shortstop Ryan Kaup.
Miami then added two more runs in the second inning when Edgington hit his second home run, driving in right fielder Ryan Curl who had led off the inning with a single. The Mountaineers got their first run of the game in the bottom half of the frame on a solo home run by designated hitter Jeremy Gum. But the 'Hawks did not let off the gas at all, scoring two more runs in the third. Curl had a two-out triple that drove in Kaup and third baseman Brad Gschwind.
A two-out double with a man on in the fourth gave West Virginia its second run of the game. Then in the sixth inning, Miami pushed its lead to 9-2 after Redeker doubled with one out and Beaver drove him in with a single to center field. The Mountaineers kept chipping away at the deficit one run at a time, getting another back in the seventh inning on a solo home run by center fielder Mark Dvoroznak.
But the 'Hawks made sure the game was out of reach with three more runs in the top of the eighth inning. Edgington, Redeker and Weisenburger all reached to lead off the inning, by a walk, a single and an error, respectively. Edgington scored on a wild pitch and then Beaver drove home Redeker with a single to center field. Weisenburger came home on Gschwind's ground out to the pitcher.
The Mountaineers tacked on a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the ninth off of Miami reliever Joe Neff, who worked two innings, striking out two and walking one while giving up two hits.
Miami will continue play in the Hughes Bros. Challenge Saturday in Wilmington, facing UNC-Wilmington.
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