March 18, 2006

Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. - Double-digit hits and a strong performance by sophomore right-hander John Ely (Homewood, Ill.) gave Miami an impressive 9-7 win over the Washington State Cougars. Miami led for the first three innings but found itself down going into the bottom of the fifth inning. The RedHawks (6-8, 0-0) showed some resilience and pulled together for two runs in the fifth and a three-run seventh to give Washington State (17-6, 0-0) its second loss of the Pepsi/Jonny Quik Classic.

Miami took a second-inning lead as a Washington State error resulted in a Miami run. Senior Jon Franzese (Barrington, Ill.) led off the inning and reached first base on an error by Cougar shortstop Paul Gran. Freshman Jordan Petraitis (Canal Fulton, Ohio) followed with a single and both Franzese and Petraitis moved to third and second base, respectively, on a Chris Niro sacrifice bunt. Senior Eric Radley (Hermitage Tenn.) brought in the first RedHawk run with a single into right field that brought home Franzese and moved Petraitis to third base. Junior Ryne Robinson (Toledo, Ohio) was the next man up and Robinson produced another RedHawk run as he singled into left field bringing home Petraitis and giving Miami a 2-0 lead.

Washington State tied the game in the fourth inning as the first two men got onboard and scored for the Cougars. Jared Prince led off the inning with a double in the left field gap and Prince scored on a Zach McAngus single cutting the Miami lead to 2-1. Jeff Miller followed with a walk and two consecutive fielder's choice plays allowed McAngus to score tying the game at two.

A lead-off double proved costly again for the RedHawks as Washington State jumped in front of Miami 3-2. Paul Gran started the inning off with a double in the right-field gap and moved to third base on an error by Jon Franzese giving the Cougars runners at the corners. Two batters later, Prince grounded into a double play which scored Gran and gave the Cougars a one-run lead.

Miami quickly got the lead back in the bottom of the fifth inning as the top of the order for the RedHawks produced two runs giving Miami a 4-3 lead. Sophomore Evan Armitage (Milford, Ohio) began the inning with an infield hit and he moved to third base when junior Brandon Hillier (Hinsdale, Ill.) doubled over the left fielder's head. On the next pitch, senior Geoff Orr (Orland Park, Ill.) doubled down the right field line plating Armitage and Hillier giving the RedHawks the 4-3 advantage.

Miami opened up the game in the bottom of the seventh inning extending its lead to four. Geoff Orr started things off with a single up the middle and Jon Franzese followed with a walk giving Miami runners on first and second base with nobody out. Jordan Petraitis laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt advancing both runners up a base. Washington State intentionally walked sophomore Chris Niro (Walton Hills, Ohio) to load the bases for Miami and to give the Cougars a force out at every base. Eric Radley turned the Washington State decision into a mistake as Radley hit a chopper over the third baseman's head resulting in a bases clearing double and a 7-3 Miami lead.

Miami added two insurance runs in the eighth inning to give Miami a 9-3 lead heading into the ninth inning. Evan Armitage led the inning off with a single and moved to second base on a Brandon Hillier sacrifice bunt. Orr singled to move Armitage to third base and Franzese drove in Armitage and moved Orr to third base on a single past the pitcher. Petraitis followed Franzese with a single through the left side to bring in Orr and give Miami the six run cushion.

The two eighth inning insurance runs proved to be huge as Washington State scored four runs in the ninth but it wasn't enough as Miami held on 9-7.

Ely improved to 2-1 on the season by giving up seven hits and two earned runs while striking out seven Cougar batters in eight innings. Orr and Robinson tied a career-highs for hits with four and three, respectively, while Eric Radley drove in a career-high four rbi's

Miami will finish the Pepsi/Jonny Quik Classic as the Red and White will take on Lafayette at 2:30 p.m. (PST) today. Miami will send Graham Taylor to the mound in hopes to end the California swing on a three-game winning streak.

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