OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University baseball team routed Central Michigan Friday, winning 12-5 after Zac Sohosky and Austin Berggren combined for 13 strikeouts. Diego Cruz hit the RedHawks’ lone home run of the day, a two-run blast during the eighth to put the game away. Miami improves to 27-13 (15-7 MAC) with the win while Central Michigan falls to 18-21 (9-13 MAC).

HOW IT HAPPENED


Central struck first, scoring one run off two hits in the top of the second.
The RedHawks answered with three runs in the bottom of the second. Miami loaded the bases with a walk, an HBP, and a single by Christopher Roa. Evan Appelwick walked to tie the game, and Tommy Harrison hit a two-RBI single to give Miami a 3-1 lead.
Sohosky threw a three-strikeout inning in the top of the third, bringing him to six strikeouts on the day.
Central added one run in the fourth after Miami made two errors.
Miami made it a 6-2 game in the bottom of the fourth. After two walks and an infield single by Marcus Dierks loaded the bases, Appelwick grounded out to force in one run. Harrison singled to drive in another and Ignacio Gonzalez earned the inning’s final RBI with a single to right field that made it a four-run game.
Sohosky had another one-two-three inning in the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the fifth, Dominic Krupinski walked and Dierks singled, setting up Appelwick for a bases-clearing double. After another walk, a single by Ryan Novak made it a 9-2 advantage for Miami.
Back-to-back homers brought the Chippewas back within five runs, 9-4, in the top of the sixth.
Sohosky saw three up, three down in the seventh, rounding out a seven-inning, seven-strikeout outing.
After loading the bases in the eighth, Central Michigan scored their final run of the day with an HBP. Berggren came in and pitched three strikeouts to end the inning.
Gonzalez reached first on an error to start the eighth. Roa tripled to right field to add an insurance run for the RedHawks and Cruz pounded a two-run home run to round out a 12-run day at the plate for the RedHawks.
Berggren sent all three ninth-inning batters down on strikes to put an exclamation point on the 12-5 victory.

 
MIAMI GAME NOTES:


Dierks went a perfect 5-for-5 and scored three runs.
Harrison went 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
Roa went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI.
Cruz had two runs, two RBIs, and a walk.
Krupinski had three runs and two walks.
Sohosky pitched 7.0 innings, holding the Chippewas to five hits and three earned runs while striking out seven batters.
Berggren pitched 2.0 perfect innings, sending down all six batters faced with strikeouts.
Berggren and Sohosky combined for no walks.
The RedHawks left 11 on base and Central left six on base.
The RedHawks made three errors and Central made one error.
Miami outhit Central 13 to six.

 
UP NEXT:
The RedHawks return to McKie Field Saturday, April 25 for game two of their three-game series against Central Michigan. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.