The Battle of the Bricks between Miami and Ohio University on the diamond was delayed Thursday due to soggy field conditions, and as a result the RedHawks (32-23, 18-8) and Bobcats (26-27, 10-16) decided to play a doubleheader on Friday instead. They split the games between them, with Miami winning the first game 8-7 before dropping the nightcap 3-2. Firstbaseman Kyle Weldon combined for four hits on the day, as the RedHawks pounded out 13 hits in the opening victory, and then seven more in defeat. Miami's starting pitchers, Mac Thoreson and Tyler Melling, combined to pitch 10 2/3 shutout innings, as their outings were kept short to rest their arms.
Miami built an early lead for Thoreson (5-3) in the first game. An unearned run was gotten in the second inning, when rightfielder Ryan Curl singled with two outs, then went to second base on a bad pickoff attempt, stole third base and scored on a bad throw down by OU's catcher.
In the third inning, secondbaseman Jon Edgington drew a one-out walk and thirdbaseman Brad Gschwind followed him with a single. Catcher Adam Weisenburger then doubled in Edgington to make it a 2-0 game. Gschwind came home on a groundout by leftfielder Bryce Redeker before Weldon singled in Weisenburger for a 4-0 advantage. After Thoreson was pulled, Shawn Marquardt came out of the bullpen in the sixth inning and served up a pinch-hit two-run home run to cut the lead in half.
The Miami bats came back out in the seventh and put up four runs to seemingly put the game out of reach. Centerfielder Ryan Brenner singled to lead off the inning, and Edgington drew a base on balls after him. After a successful double steal put them both in scoring position, Weisenburger singled in Brenner with one out. Edgington then scored on a bunt single by Redeker, and Weldon doubled in two more runs to put Miami up 8-2.
However the Bobcats rallied in the bottom of the ninth, hitting up Brandon Adkins and Sam Dawes for five runs. After putting the first three batters on base in the inning, Adkins' day came to an end once he gave up a run on a fielder's choice. Dawes didn't fare much better, giving up back-to-back singles and a double to cut the lead to 8-6. He allowed one more run on a groundout, before finally recording the final out.
Melling pitched excellently in the nightcap, but ended up with a no-decision after throwing 5 2/3 shutout innings. Miami's defense was its Achilles' heel, as all of OU's runs were unearned, courtesy of four Miami errors. The 'Hawks did give Melling a 1-0 lead before he exited, breaking a scoreless tie in the fifth inning. Brenner started the inning with a single and moved over to third on two ground outs before scoring on a dropped third strike that got away from the catcher.
The Bobcats went in front in the bottom of the seventh inning, getting to reliever Matt Rosinski (2-3) (who pitched a scoreless inning in the opener). After the leadoff man singled, an errant throw by Rosinski on a fielder's choice left both runners safe. The tying run then scored on a double. An error by Edgington loaded the bases, and the go-ahead run scored as the 'Hawks opted to turn a 6-4-3 double play.
Miami tied the game back up at 2-2 in the top of the eighth by virtue of a sac fly from designated hitter Kevin Bower. But the Bobcats went back in front in the bottom of the inning. A fielding error by shortstop Ryan Kaup kept the inning going long enough for the winning run to eventually get doubled in. When the 'Hawks came up to bat in the top of the ninth, they sat back down in order, 1-2-3.
The 'Hawks and 'Cats will play one final game on Saturday, the regular season finale for both teams. OU needs a win and some help in order to get into the MAC Tournament, so you know the RedHawks would love a chance to knock out their longtime rivals. Miami meanwhile has now clinched the No. 3 seed in the upcoming tournament. Things are still a little fluid around the conference as teams jockey for playoff position on the final day of the regular season, but right now it looks like Miami will play either Toledo (26-26, 15-11) or Northern Illinois (28-25, 15-11) in the first round. The 'Hawks were 1-2 against the Huskies this season, playing them on the road just last month, but they did not face the Rockets this year.
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