April 27, 2007

Final Stats

OXFORD, Ohio - Behind a career-high tying 14 strikeouts from junior right-handed pitcher John Ely, Miami University's baseball team defeated Bowling Green 12-2 in Mid-American Conference action Friday evening at McKie Field at Hayden Park. Miami (21-16; 9-5 MAC) collected double-digit hits for the eighth time in its last ten games, while the Falcons fell to 17-23 overall and 4-12 in conference play.

Miami jumped in front of Bowling Green in the first inning thanks to five consecutive hits by the top of the Miami batting order. Junior second baseman Evan Armitage led off the inning with a line drive triple that sailed over the left fielder's head. On the next pitch, senior center fielder Brandon Hillier doubled into left-center field plating Armitage. Sophomore shortstop Jordan Petraitis followed Hillier by belting a home run, his fourth of the year, over the left field wall, increasing the RedHawk advantage to 3-0. Miami kept the pressure on as sophomore left fielder Chris Nadeau doubled over the right fielder's head and moved to third base on a single by sophomore designated hitter Eric Darlage. A sacrifice fly by senior first baseman Jeff Carroll plated Nadeau giving the RedHawks a 4-0 lead. Darlage moved to second base on a groundout, and crossed home plate on a freshman right fielder Gary King single, extending the Miami cushion to 5-0.

Bowling Green cut the lead to 5-1 in the second inning after Josh Dietz hit a solo home run over the right field wall.

The hit parade continued for Miami in the second inning. Sophomore catcher Josh Hula started things off with a single through the left side, and Hula moved to second base on a single through the right side by Armitage. Hillier drove in his second run in as many innings as he hit a single up the middle scoring Armitage, moving the Miami lead back to five at 6-1.

Walks to Hula, Hillier, and Petraitis loaded the bases with one out for Miami in the fourth inning. Nadeau grounded into a fielder's choice scoring Hula, while Hillier advanced to third base. A two-out single through the middle of the infield by Darlage drove in Hillier and Miami took an 8-1 lead heading into the fifth inning.

A lead-off triple from Armitage and a hit-by-pitch to Hillier gave the RedHawks runners on the corners with nobody out in the sixth inning. Petraitis followed with a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Armitage and advancing Hillier to third base. With Nadeau at the plate, a passed ball by the Bowling Green catcher allowed Hillier to score moving the Miami lead to 10-1. Nadeau drew a walk and moved into scoring position after a ground ball. Carroll drilled a double into right-center field plating Nadeau, and Carroll scored on a throwing error by the Bowling Green shortstop increasing the Miami advantage to 12-1.

Bowling Green cut the gap to 12-2 in the eighth inning, but the Falcons could not creep any closer as Miami took game one of the three-game series 12-2.

Ely's 14 strikeouts is the first time that a Miami player has struck out at least 10 batters in a game since Keith Weiser struck out 11 batters against Northern Illinois on April 16, 2006. With the win, Ely moves to 7-2 on the season.

Miami continues its series against Bowling Green at 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 28.

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