March 17, 2010

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OXFORD, Ohio - Strong pitching from eight RedHawks helped lead the Miami University baseball team to its fifth straight win, a 3-1 victory over Division II Northern Kentucky, Wednesday afternoon at McKie Field at Hayden Park in the team's home opener. The RedHawks (7-7) improved to 14-1 all-time against the Norse (11-5), who saw their own five-game win streak snapped. Miami has now won its last three home openers.

RedHawk freshman starter Mac Thoreson (Knoxville, Tenn.) earned his first collegiate win (1-0), as he tossed the opening two innings of the game and struck out three while allowing just a hit. From there, Miami's bullpen took over, as seven different RedHawk hurlers each threw roughly an inning while keeping the Norse bats at bay, as sophomore Jordan Jankowski (McMurray, Pa.), who started as the designated hitter, earned his second save of 2010. NKU starter Jarrett Casey (1-2) took the loss, despite allowing just a run on three hits with two punch-outs in an inning of work.

"We wanted to get some guys some work, especially our pitchers," Miami head coach Dan Simonds said. "It was good to see Mac Thoreson get out there, as we're looking at moving him into the starting rotation and to get him into that mindset was very important for today. That was great to see. "

The RedHawks jumped on NKU quickly, as Miami's first three batters recorded hits with a single by junior right fielder Adam Eaton (Springfield, Ohio) plating sophomore centerfielder Ryan Curl (Columbus, Ohio) to put the 'Hawks up 1-0 after one inning. Miami went up 2-0 in the fourth frame on an RBI single to left field by junior shortstop Ryan Kaup (Chandler, Ariz.), extending his hit streak to eight games, while a double down the left-field line by Jankowski in the fifth put the RedHawks on top 3-0.

Back-to-back doubles in the top of the seventh by the Norse ended the shutout, as they closed within two, but senior reliever Jamaal Hollis (Chicago, Ill.) and Jankowski fired perfect eighth and ninth innings, respectively, to secure the 3-1 win.

Miami out-hit Northern Kentucky 11-6, as Eaton and Jankowski each had a pair of hits, scored a run and notched an RBI, while junior second baseman Brad Gschwind (Cincinnati, Ohio) and senior left fielder Zak Hatfield (Fort Wayne, Ind.) also each had two hits for the 'Hawks.

Miami returns to the diamond this weekend when it travels to Jacksonville State for a three-game set. The RedHawks and Gamecocks play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT) and wrap up the series Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (noon CT).

--MURedHawks.com--