Miami Baseball takes two of three from Toledo in pivotal road series

On a chilly mid-April weekend, the Miami University RedHawks baseball team battled the University of Toledo Rockets in a three-game series. The RedHawks won two of three versus the Rockets in a pivotal conference tilt.

Entering the weekend, Miami maintained a 23-12 overall record, 12-6 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). With only one conference game separating the RedHawks from the first place Kent State Golden Flashes, this was a must-win series.

Game 1: 7-2 Miami Win

Senior left-handed pitcher Zac Sohosky started game one and entered with a 3-1 record. Senior right-handed pitcher Zach Leininger got the nod for Toledo, and entered with a perfect 7-0 record.

To begin the contest, both pitchers were efficient at quieting the bats, but in the bottom of the second, third baseman Tory Sudbrook gave the Rockets a 1-0 lead on an RBI groundout to Sohosky.

In the next frame, both sides traded blows. Center fielder Marcus Dierks reached on an infield single and showcased his speed by stealing second and advanced home on two separate wild pitches to tie the game.

In the next inning, Sudbrook gave the Rockets another run with an RBI groundout to Sohosky.

However, Miami ambushed Leininger in back-to-back frames, loading the bases with no outs. In the fourth, second baseman Diego Cruz hit a sacrifice fly to left field to tie the game at 2-2.

Right after, left fielder Ryan Novak hit an RBI groundout to second to hand the RedHawks a 3-2 lead.

From the third inning on, Sohosky was lights out. He silenced all Toledo hitters by having three straight scoreless innings.

In the top of the seventh, shortstop Ignacio Gonzalez hit an RBI single to left field and third baseman Dom Krupinski beat out a throw at second to score another.

After seven innings, Miami had a 5-2 advantage.

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Gonzalez entered the box with two runners on base and one out in the ninth before he smacked a pitch up the middle and drove in two more runs.

Senior right-handed pitcher Austin Berggren took over for Sohosky in the ninth and retired three straight Toledo hitters to give the RedHawks a solid five-run victory.

Game 2: 6-3 Miami Win

Miami right-hander Clayton Burke started game two, entering with a 5-1 record. Toledo countered with freshman left-handed pitcher Hayden Frey who had a 2-1 record.

The contest began with a pitching duel through the first four innings. No runs were scored from either side.

However, the RedHawks struck gold in the fifth inning after back-to-back singles from Novak and designated hitter Jamie Rasmussen. Catcher Matt Buffington would hammer the first pitch he saw over the left field fence to give the RedHawks a 3-0 lead, his third home run of the season.

In the sixth, Novak singled up the middle and brought home Krupinski to give Miami a four-run cushion.

In the seventh, both first baseman Evan Appelwick and right fielder Tommy Harrison had RBIs to give Miami a 6-0 lead.

In the eighth, Burke continued his excellent day, retiring three consecutive hitters. He remained in the game for the ninth inning, aiming for a complete game shutout.

In back to back at-bats, he generated two groundouts on the left side. With only one out to go, he gave up a double and a ground ball to Appelwick that resulted in an error. The next at bat, Toledo catcher Jacob Payne hit a three-run homer to left, and Marc Iozzo came in to relieve Burke.

The right-hander hit the first batter he faced and surrendered a single to the next batter. With two runners on base and two outs, Toledo brought in pinch hitter Carson McCaleb to try and even the score. Iozzo would then strike him out to give Miami a 6-3 win.

Game 3: 20-4 Toledo Win

Senior right-handed pitcher Troy Benko made the start in hopes to sweep the series for Miami. Toledo started right-handed pitcher Michael Fliss.

In the series finale, the RedHawks were playing from behind all game long. In the first inning, Toledo scored three runs. The Rockets shortstop Charlie Scholvin struck first with an RBI single to right. A few at bats later, Cole Cahill secured a sacrifice fly to center and right after the center fielder Liam Arsich lasered an RBI double to left.

Toledo scored nine more runs in the next inning, ending Benko’s day after only 1.2 innings pitched.

The Rockets ended the second with a three-run home run from first baseman Preston Zumwalt which catapulted the Rockets by 12 runs after two innings.

Behind by 13 and needing some offense, Miami’s designated hitter Mason Breidenbach hit a grand slam to right with one out to give the RedHawks the only runs of the afternoon.

Toledo didn’t stop on offense, scoring seven in the next inning. The RedHawks were unable to generate any consistent challenges offensively and fell to Toledo 20-4 by mercy rule.

Despite dropping the final game, the RedHawks came away successful with a 2-1 series victory and are now tied for third in the MAC with a 25-13 overall record, 14-7 in the conference.

Miami’s next series matchup is against the Central Michigan Chippewas from April 24-26 after a Tuesday mid-week home game against the University of Michigan Wolverines.

relvasaj@miamioh.edu