April 30, 2008

Box Score

OXFORD, Ohio - Miami University's baseball team matched a season-high with 14 runs as the RedHawks took down Eastern Kentucky 14-6 Wednesday evening at McKie Field at Hayden Park. In the first start of his career, freshman Kyle Weldon collected three hits and drove in four runs to lead Miami (16-28).

Eastern Kentucky (21-22-1) scored two runs in the first inning, just as it did a night earlier, but the RedHawks responded with four runs in the bottom of the first to take a 4-2 lead. Freshman Adam Eaton led things off with a single to left field, but Eaton was erased during Miami's next at-bat as a ball hit by junior Jordan Petraitis hit Eaton on the foot. However, a single by junior Chris Nadeau and a walk by junior Tommy Nurre loaded the bases with one out. Senior Evan Armitage tied the game with a two-RBI single up the middle that plated Petraitis and Nadeau. Freshman John Hornke drilled Miami's fifth single of the inning, which loaded the bases again for the RedHawks. In the first start of his career, Weldon hit a deep single to the wall in left field that scored Nurre and Armitage and gave Miami a 4-2 lead.

The RedHawks increased their advantage to 8-2 as Miami scored four runs in the third inning, all with two outs. Weldon slapped a two-out single into left field to get things started, before junior Eric Darlage singled on a line into center field, placing runners on first and second base. Freshman Jon Edgington drove in his first run of the game as he singled into right center field, plating Weldon and moving Darlage to third base. With the Eastern Kentucky third baseman playing behind the bag at third base, Eaton placed a bunt down the third-base line resulting in a RBI single. Petraitis came to the plate and belted a double off the wall in right-center field that scored Edgington and Eaton, pushing the Miami advantage to 8-2.

After two Colonel runs in the fifth cut Miami's lead to 8-4, the RedHawks posted six runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth, increasing its lead to double figures, 14-4. Just like the third inning, all of the RedHawk damage occurred with two outs. Edgington doubled to center field to start the two-out rally, before advancing to third base on a passed ball. Eaton walked, placing runners on the corners, and a Petraitis single plated Edgington and moved Eaton to third base. While Nadeau was at the plate, Eaton and Petraitis successfully completed a double steal that moved Petraitis into scoring position at second base and allowed Eaton to score. Nadeau was then hit by a pitch, before an infield single by Nurre loaded the bases. Armitage and freshman Brad Gschwind each drew walks, driving in one run apiece, upping Miami's lead to 12-4. Weldon struck for the second time in the game with a two-RBI single through the right side, which expanded the RedHawk cushion to 14-4.

The Colonels scored twice in the eighth inning, but that would be the end of the scoring as the RedHawks went on to defeat Eastern Kentucky, 14-6.

11 Miami players collected hits in the win, with Petraitis and Weldon finishing with three hits apiece. Freshman Kevin Sakofs doubled to left field in the eighth inning, which was his first hit in a Miami uniform. One of Petraitis' three hits was a double, which gives the junior shortstop 17 on the season, tying him with Nurre for 10th place on the single-season doubles list.

Sophomore Chase Stewart earned his third win of the season after going 4 2/3 innings and giving up three earned runs.

Miami hosts a pivotal Mid-American Conference three-game set against Akron this weekend, beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 2. Saturday's game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on May 3, while the series finale will be played at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 4. On Saturday, the 1983 Miami University baseball team will be honored as the team celebrates its 25th anniversary of their run to the NCAA Tournament.

Printer-friendly format	Email this article