FRESNO, Calif. (March 16) -- Miami University's baseball team used 13 hits and 5.2 perfect innings from starting pitcher Chris Leonard (Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales) to open a 17-0 advantage en route to a 17-3 victory over New Mexico Friday afternoon. With the win, the RedHawks upped its Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic record to 2-3 heading into the tournament's final day.

As it has in all but one game on its trip to Fresno, Miami drew first blood by scoring a run in the first inning. The RedHawks took advantage of a New Mexico error to score Jason Knoedler (Springfield, Ill./Springfield/Lincoln Land C.C.) from third to take the 1-0 lead.

Miami (6-8) capitalized on two more Lobo mishaps in the second, scoring six unearned runs to gain a 7-0 advantage. Back-to-back home runs by Clark Mace (London, Ohio/Madison Plains) and Jeremy Ison (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) highlighted the RedHawk outburst.

After suffering its first scoreless inning in the third, the Red and White notched five runs each in the fourth and fifth innings to race to a 17-0 lead. Luke Reinhart (Downers Grove, Ill./Montini Catholic) blasted his first-career grand slam in the fourth and Michael Carlin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) collected his second triple of the day, driving in two runs, to lead Miami's attack.

Holding a 17-0 lead after five innings, the only suspense left was Leonard's perfect-game bid. After retiring New Mexico's first 17 batters in order, Lobo shortstop Dusty Young reached first on an error, breaking up the perfect game, but keeping the no-hitter intact. However, New Mexico's next batter, Troy Cairns, drove a pitch over the left-center field wall to end the no-hitter and shutout.

Leonard left after six innings, allowing only one hit and two unearned runs while striking out five. The performance lowered Leonard's earned run average to 0.96.

Despite the RedHawks' inability to tally a hit in the game's final four innings, relief pitchers Justin Farina (Sarnia, Ontario/St. Christopher's) and Justin Knoedler (Springfield, Ill./Springfield/Lincoln Land C.C.) - Miami's regular starting catcher - combined to hold New Mexico to one run and four hits over the final three frames.

Offensively, Jason Knoedler went 4-for-6 with two doubles and a triple, Carlin went 3-for-4 with two triples and a double and Ison and Reinhart drove in four runs apiece to lead the Red and White.

Miami closes its weeklong stay in Fresno on Saturday afternoon, with its game time and opponent to be determined.