Oct. 3, 2009

Box Score

OXFORD, Ohio - The Red Team scored seven runs in the first four innings Saturday night at McKie Field at Hayden Park and never looked back, winning game two of Miami baseball’s annual Red & White Series, 9-5. With the victory, Red (2-0) took a 2-0 lead over the White Team (0-2) in the best-of-five series after taking game one Friday, 3-1.

After the two sides combined for just 10 hits in Friday’s intrasquad series opener, the Red Team smacked 13 hits while White managed 11 hits. Freshman third baseman Bryan Beaver (West Chester, Ohio) led the hit parade with three doubles, an RBI and a pair of runs scored for the White Team in a losing effort. Ten different members of the Red Team recorded a hit with junior shortstop Brad Gschwind (Cincinnati, Ohio), junior right fielder Adam Eaton (Springfield, Ohio) and junior first baseman Kyle Weldon (Mason, Ohio) each registering two.

“Both teams really swung the bat well. There were 24 hits but there were a lot of hard-hit outs too. Balls were driven up against the fence and a lot of hard ground balls, which we like to see,” Miami head coach Dan Simonds said. “We made less outs in the air, and that’s a big thing we’ve got to do.”

Red jumped on top in the bottom of the first when Eaton’s RBI triple plated junior Jon Edgington (Cincinnati, Ohio) for the first run of the game and Eaton later scored on a sac fly for a 2-0 edge. After Red padded its lead by scoring a run in each of the next two frames, freshman catcher Nate Bowles (Dayton, Ohio) made it 6-0 with his two-run bomb to left field in the fourth. Junior centerfielder Bryce Redeker (Watseka, Ill.) doubled later in the inning to score Gschwind.

In the top of the fifth, the White Team attempted a comeback scoring three runs. Sophomore centerfielder Patrick Glass (Upper St. Claire, Pa.) drove in White’s first run on a single. White then added another score on a sac fly and freshman Kevin Bower (Indianapolis, Ind.) capped the outburst with an RBI double, one of his two hits on the day.

The White Team closed within three at 7-4 in the top of the seventh, but the Red Team answered with runs in the bottom of the seventh and eighth as Edgington scored for the second time in the game to make it 9-4.

In the top of the ninth, doubles by freshman Mac Thoreson (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Beaver made it 9-5 but senior closer Jamaal Hollis (Chicago, Ill.) struck out the final two batters to secure the victory for the Red Team.

“All fall long we’ve had some pleasant surprises,” Simonds said. “Ryan Kaup has played a very solid defensive shortstop (for White). He’s done a nice job and he’s been a nice addition for us. Bryan Beaver swung the bat very well today as well. With his three doubles today, he made a statement that he may be in a position to contribute a little bit, especially with his versatility.”

Freshman right-hander Mason Reynolds (West Carrollton, Ohio) earned the win for the Red Team, tossing two scoreless innings to start the game, while redshirt sophomore hurler John Greene (Oxford, Ohio) took the loss, allowing three runs in two frames. Sophomores Lance Kingrey (Hilliard, Ohio) and Joe Neff (Carmel, Ind.) combined for three scoreless innings for the Red Team on the mound, as well.

“I thought the pitching for the most part was pretty good today,” Simonds said. “We cut down on our walks and we’re challenging hitters more. That’s something we’re going to have to do during the season time and time again.”

The Red Team looks to secure this year’s Red & White Series next weekend when action continues Thursday, Oct. 8 at 3:30 p.m. The RedHawks will conclude their annual fall series Friday, Oct. 9, and Saturday, Oct. 10 with games starting at 3:30 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday.

--MURedHawks.com--

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