The RedHawks waited until the late innings to get on the scoreboard, but good things come to those who wait. They had stellar pitching performances from both Alex Brown and Shawn Marquardt, and firstbaseman Kyle Weldon drove in three runs to lead the 'Hawks (14-14, 4-2) over Indiana (18-10) 6-1 Tuesday evening in Oxford.
Brown cruised through the first four innings, allowing just two hits, but in the top of the fifth the Hoosiers got to him for an unearned run. He gave up a walk to lead off the inning, and then his own throwing error on a ground ball put runners on second and third with no outs. Marquardt (2-4) was called in for damage control. He did strike out the side, but not before the lead runner stole home plate to give Indiana a 1-0 lead.
The RedHawks were held in check until the bottom of the seventh inning. Rightfielder Bryce Redeker led off the inning with a single, and then catcher Adam Weisenburger reached on a throwing error that left the runners on second and third. Weldon grounded out to push Redeker across the plate, but two batters later, the bases were loaded following an intentional walk and a hit batsman. Thirdbaseman Brad Gschwind was also hit by a pitch to force in the go-ahead run, and then secondbaseman Jon Edgington hit a sac fly to score pinch runner Ryan Brenner and make it a 3-1 game.
In the very next inning Miami struck again for three more runs. After the first two men were put on by a walk and yet another hit-by-pitch, Weisenburger bunted them into scoring position so that Weldon could drive both in with a single. The hit (by pitch) parade continued, as the bases were re-loaded on another hit batsman and walk. Then Gschwind took one for the team for the second time in as many at-bats, once again pushing across another RBI via the HBP and a 6-1 Miami lead.
Marquardt picked up the win by throwing five shutout innings of relief, striking out five while allowing just three hits and no walks.
The RedHawks will play again on Wednesday, travelling to Columbus to face the Ohio State Buckeyes (10-11) at 6:35 p.m.
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