OXFORD, Ohio – The Ball State baseball team cut a four-run deficit down to one in the middle innings of Thursday’s game at Miami but fell 14-4 to the RedHawks in the series opener at McKie Field.
The Cardinals (15-13, 10-3 Mid-American Conference) trailed 4-0 after the hosts (18-10, 8-5 MAC) scored one run in the first inning and three runs in the second. Ball State got back-to-back-to-back run-
scoring singles from Brayden Huebner, Brett Griffiths and Jacob Gillis in the top of the fifth to cut Miami’s edge to 4-3.
After the RedHawks hit a solo home run in the bottom half of the fifth frame, the Cardinals responded with an RBI double from Huebner to plate Kenskey Thomas that made the score 5-4. Miami scored four runs in the sixth and five in the seventh to secure the seven-inning victory.
Huebner went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI, while Gillis and Thomas chipped in two hits each to lead the Ball State offense.
Brendan Garza (3-3) struck out nine but allowed five runs in 5.0 innings to suffer the loss. Zac Sohosky (3-0) worked 5.1 innings of four-run ball for the RedHawks to be credited with the win.
The duo of Evan Applewick (double, homer, five RBI) and Tommy Harrison (3-for-4, home run, three RBI) in the middle of the Miami lineup led the way for the RedHawks.
Game two of the series is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday.