The RedHawks and Broncos battled back and forth all afternoon, but in the end Miami's shortstop Ryan Kaup came through with a clutch two-out two-run double in the eighth inning to give Miami (19-18, 7-5) an 8-7 win and take two out of three games from Western Michigan (18-18, 7-5) Sunday afternoon in Oxford. With the win, the RedHawks climb back into a tie with Bowling Green (13-19, 7-5) for second place in the MAC East.
The two teams traded runs in the first inning. The Broncos scored off of Miami's starter, Brooks Fiala, after the first batter of the game drew a walk and came around on a two-out RBI single. In the bottom half of the frame, Miami evened the score with some small ball of their own. Centerfielder Ryan Brenner walked to lead off the inning, moved to second on a wild pitch and then to third on a ground out before scoring on a sac fly by rightfielder Bryce Redeker.
Miami went on top by a 3-1 score in the third inning. Kaup and secondbaseman Jon Edgington led off with back-to-back singles and both moved into scoring position by a Brenner bunt. Kaup then scored on a single by thirdbaseman Brad Gschwind and Edgington followed him home on a sac fly off of Redeker's bat. However, the lead was short-lived. The Broncos came right back and score twice in the top of the fourth inning, getting three consecutive two-out doubles off of Fiala to tie the game back up.
The RedHawks regained the lead in the fifth inning, after Brenner stroked a two-out single. He then stole second base and was able to score on a double by Gschwind. Then in the sixth inning, catcher Adam Weisenburger slammed a solo home run into center field to make it a 5-3 Miami game. It was his fourth homer of the season.
But the teeter-totter effect remained in effect, and the Broncos scored thrice in the seventh inning against Miami's bullpen. Sam Dawes came on in relief to start the inning, and gave up a double and a single with one out to allow one run to score. He was quickly replaced by Brandon Adkins, but he surrendered a single and a walk to load the bases, and then a double to drive in two more runs and cough up the lead.
In the bottom of the inning, the 'Hawks got back a run to tie the game again for the final time when Brenner doubled with one out, stole third base, and then scored on a sac fly by Gschwind. After the Broncos left the bases loaded in the top of the eighth (three hit batsmen in the inning!), Kaup gave the 'Hawks back the lead for good in the bottom of the inning. With Weisenburger and pinch-hitter Pat Glass standing on second and third, Kaup came through with the clutch double into left field and an 8-6 lead.
Of course, there would be more drama. In the top of the ninth the Broncos picked up another run to make it a taut one-run game. After giving up a walk and a single to start the inning, Ryan Meyers (who had come on for the last out of the eighth) was pulled in favor of Seth Varner. He faced just one batter, getting him to pop out for the first out of the inning. Matt Rosinski was then called in, and he was victimized for a sac bunt that allowed the run to score from third. Shawn Marquardt was brought in as the seventh Miami pitcher of the night. He walked the first batter he faced, but then got a strikeout to finally end the match and pick up his first save of the season. Meyers picked up the win, improving to 2-0.
The RedHawks will enjoy a few days off before they welcome the Musketeers of Xavier back to Oxford on Wednesday. These two non-conference rivals will be facing off for the fourth time this season, with Miami looking to even the season series at two wins apiece. This game is a makeup date, as the game was supposed to be played originally March 30th, but it was postponed due to weather conditions.
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