OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University baseball team completed a sweep of the Eastern Michigan Eagles Sunday, winning a 9-4 contest after hitting two home runs. Ignacio Gonzalez had a four-RBI game for the RedHawks that included a three-run homer in the first inning. The RedHawks move to 11-4 (3-0 MAC) with the win while EMU drops to 4-12 (0-3 MAC).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Clayton Burke took the mound to start for Miami and immediately sent down all three batters on strikes in the top of the first.
Miami jumped to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the frame. The RedHawks scored one run after two walks, a wild pitch and a passed ball. Gonzalez then cleared the bags with a three-run homer to left field.
A walk and back-to-back doubles for the Eagles made it a 4-2 ballgame in the top of the second.
Diego Cruz and Marcus Dierks each singled in the bottom of the second and Ryan Novak walked to load the bases. Tommy Harrison took a HBP to force one run home and make it 5-2.
A 440-foot home run pulled the Eagles back within two in the top of the third.
Singles by Dierks and Ryan Novak led to an insurance run for the RedHawks, making it 6-3.
Jake Tedesco threw three strikeouts in the top of the sixth to fend off the Eagles.
Cruz fired off his first homer of the season in the bottom of the sixth, a solo shot, to make it 7-3 in favor of the RedHawks.
Harrison singled in the bottom of the seventh, setting up Carson Raether for an RBI double. Gonzalez followed with a single to score Raether, bringing the score to 9-3.
The RedHawks let up three hits in the top of the eighth but managed to surrender just one run and maintain a five-run advantage.
Austin Berggren recorded the final three outs to round out the 9-4 win and secure a sweep for Miami.
MIAMI GAME NOTES:
Dierks went 2-for-5 with a run.
Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a run.
Cruz went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs.
Tedesco pitched 4.0 scoreless innings in relief and notched five strikeouts.
UP NEXT:
The RedHawks’ schedule includes four home games this week with the first coming as a standalone game versus Evansville on Wednesday at 3 p.m. Beginning on Friday, Miami will face Bowling Green at McKie Field for a three-game conference series.