Sophomore Charles Zubrod brings the heat against Xavier University Tuesday in the Joe Nuxhall Invitational. Zubrod threw six shut-out innings in the RedHawks’ 1-0 win over the Musketeers. Miami, however, fell in the championship game to Wright State University of 2-1. (Jessi Thorne | The Miami Student)
The Miami University baseball team (17-16, 3-6 Mid-American Conference (MAC)) hoped to capture their first Joe Nuxhall Invitational in the four years the team has been hosting it, but fell 2-1 to the Wright State University Raiders in the Championship Game.
Despite solid pitching throughout the tournament, the Red and White were unable to get enough offensive support to win the event, mustering only nine hits in both games combined.
"We have to continue to make adjustments and do a few things a little bit better," Head Coach Dan Simonds said. "We failed in areas and in close ball games you can't do that."
Freshman outfielder Matt Honchel continued his strong year, going 3-7 with one run and one RBI. He was the only Miami hitter to have a hit in both games.
"I'm seeing the ball well," Honchel said. "We've all been hitting the ball hard, we just need to get more run support for our pitchers."
The RedHawks and Raiders were tied entering the ninth inning, but senior second baseman Ryan Brenner had a line drive bounce off his glove, allowing the go-ahead run to score. The RedHawks then failed to register a hit in the bottom half of the inning and lost 2-1.
"Their whole staff did a good job," Simonds said. "They have a good program and a good team."
Freshman pitcher Clay Cinnamon picked up a no-decision against Wright State, pitching 4.2 innings while giving up only one earned run off four hits.
"All the guys threw the ball well and they gave us a chance to win," Simonds said.
The team won the opening game against Xavier University (XU) 1-0, behind a stellar performance from junior pitcher Charles Zubrod. Zubrod threw 6.2 innings of scoreless baseball. Senior Matt Rosinski pitched the other 2.1 innings and picked up the win. It was the RedHawks second shutout of the year.
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"It was a huge win and XU is a big rivalry," freshman outfielder Jacob Wolf said.
Wolf was the hero of the opener, driving in the game's only run. Wolf came in as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the seventh inning, driving in Honchel on a groundout.
"It was huge because we weren't getting anything going," Wolf said. "With two strikes, I was just trying to get the ball in play."
The RedHawks stay home over the weekend when they host Northern Illinois University in a three game MAC series. The Red and White enter the series fourth place in the MAC East Division.
The Huskies have lost four straight and enter the series 8-24 overall record and last place in the MAC west at 2-7. They lost their last contest to Illinois State University 22-3.
NIU took two of three games, both of which were shutouts, from Miami last year.
"Hopefully we can take the weekend," Honchel said.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Fans can listen to the games on www.redhawkradio.com.
Miami swept its doubleheader against Morehead State University Thursday, winning 5-2 then 7-5.
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