OXFORD, Ohio -- On the strength of a 14-run, 17-hit offensive outburst, Miami University's baseball team collected its first win of the season, defeating Ohio Dominican College 14-11 in the RedHawks' home opener at Stanley G. McKie Field Saturday afternoon (Feb. 24).

Senior centerfielder Clark Mace (London, Ohio/Madison Plains) led Miami at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored. Senior first baseman Brady Nori (Middletown, Ohio/Middletown) went 4-for-5, adding two RBI and two runs scored, while junior catcher Justin Knoedler (Springfield, Ill./Springfield/Lincoln Land C.C.) drove in three runs in his home debut for the RedHawks.

On the mound, sophomore Chris Leonard (Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales) pitched five strong innings to pick up the win. Leonard scattered four hits and allowed no runs, lowering his earned run average to a minuscule 0.69 in two appearances this season.

Miami (1-3) appeared to blow the game open in the fourth inning, plating five runs on four hits to extend its lead to 7-0. Nori's two-run single and Mace's two-run homer highlighted the onslaught. The RedHawks added two more runs in the fifth on senior shortstop Jeremy Ison's (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) solo blast top left center and freshman Matt Lee's (Phoenix, Ariz./Sunnyslope) first career RBI.

After Ohio Dominican (1-1) and Miami traded three run frames in the sixth, the Panthers roared back into the game in the seventh, notching eight runs to cut the RedHawks' advantage to 12-11.

However, sophomore pitcher Korey Kirkpartick (Aurora, Ind./South Dearborn) put out the fire in the seventh, allowing one run on one hit after entering the game with no outs. He then shut the Panthers down in the final two frames, giving up only one more hit and striking out three to record his first career save.

Miami closes its weekend homestand Sunday at 2 p.m. when it hosts Ohio Wesleyan University.