May 13, 2008
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - In a marathon game that spanned just under four hours, Miami University's baseball team rallied from an eight-run deficit to close within one run, but it wasn't enough as Indiana State defeated Miami, 17-12, in the RedHawks' final non-conference contest of the season. Miami scored 12 runs on 20 hits, while Indiana State scored 17 runs on 14 hits.
Miami struck in the top of the first inning as the RedHawks' lead-off hitter and two-hole hitter created early trouble for the Sycamores. Freshman Adam Eaton started things off with a lead-off double to left-center field, before moving to third base on a single to center field by junior Jordan Petraitis. With runners on the corners, junior Tommy Nurre drove in Eaton on a fielder's choice, putting the RedHawks ahead, 1-0. After a single by junior J.D. Mynhier advanced Nurre to second base, Nurre scored two batters later on a single down the right field line by freshman Brad Gschwind, increasing the RedHawk advantage to 2-0.
With a hit in the first inning, Petraitis extended his hitting streak to 16 games, the longest hitting streak of any RedHawk this season.
Indiana State responded with a run of its own in the first inning, before three RedHawk runs and two Sycamore runs were scored in the third inning giving Miami a 5-3 lead heading into the fourth inning. In the RedHawk third inning, Mynhier led things off with his first home run of the season over the left field fence. Following a ground out, Gschwind moved into scoring position with a double to left field and remained on second base after junior Josh Hula was intentionally walked. Two batters later, an error by the Sycamore third baseman on a ground ball off the bat of junior Blake Chaffee allowed Gschwind to score and Hula to move to third base keeping the inning alive. Eaton took advantage of the Indiana State miscue with a RBI single up the middle, upping Miami's lead to 5-1. Both Sycamore runs in the inning came on a two-RBI double off the bat of Pascal Del Real.
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The Sycamores scored 10 runs on six hits in the fourth inning to take their first lead of the game, 13-5. In the inning, the RedHawks aided the Indiana State rally with three walks and three hit batters.
Miami got a run back in the fifth inning after Hula hit a solo home run to left field. The home run was Hula's fourth long ball in his last five games.
The RedHawks chipped away in the sixth inning with one more run, closing their deficit to 13-7. Mynhier drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second base on a wild pitch two batters later. Gschwind reached base via a Sycamore error, allowing Mynhier to move up ninety feet, before a sacrifice fly off the bat of Hula moved Mynhier across the plate.
Miami continued the comeback trail in the seventh inning with four runs on six hits. Chaffee started the inning off with a single and then moved to second base on a single up the middle by Petraitis. Nurre deposited a single into center field and Chaffee tried to score from second base, but was tagged out on the relay-throw home. Petraitis and Nurre advanced to third base and second base, respectively, on the throw home that beat Chaffee. With two outs, Mynhier drove in Petraitis and Nurre with a single up the middle, closing the gap to 13-9. Another single up the middle by junior Chris Nadeau moved Mynhier to second base, until Gschwind was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hula collected Miami's second two-out, two-RBI single of the inning and brought Miami within two runs, 13-11.
A ground out started off the eighth inning, but the RedHawks were able to manufacture a run, marking the fourth consecutive inning that Miami scored. Eaton singled up the middle and then stole second base, moving into scoring position. A balk by the Indiana State pitcher advanced Eaton to third base and a RBI ground out by Petraitis plated Eaton and moved Miami within one run, 13-12.
A bases loaded single followed by a two-RBI double allowed Indiana State to score four runs in the eighth inning, as the Sycamores pushed their lead back to five runs, 17-12.
The RedHawks were unable to score for the fifth consecutive inning as Miami fell to Indiana State, 17-12.
Petraitis and Eaton led Miami with three hits apiece, while Hula drove in a career-high four runs and Mynhier drove in three runs.
The RedHawks round out their 2008 campaign with their final Mid-American Conference series against MAC East leader Kent State beginning on Thursday, May 15. Thursday's game is slated to start at 6 p.m., while Friday's and Saturday's games will begin at 6 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.
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