Click here for box score!

Click here for play-by-play!

OXFORD, Ohio – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team fell at Miami University, 8-7, Wednesday night at McKie Field at Hayden Park. The RedHawks rallied for four runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie it before an error on freshman shortstop Richie Rodriguez in the bottom of the ninth allowed the winning run to cross the plate.

Ahead 7-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth, the Colonels surrendered four runs in that inning. The final two runs came with two outs and were a result of consecutive bases-loaded walks by reliever Jayson Langfels.

After the Colonels went down quietly in the top of the ninth, Brad Gschwind walked to begin the bottom of the inning. After a sacrifice bunt advanced him to second, Ben Eubank doubled off the wall in left center. Gschwind tried to score on the play; however, senior Matt Davis’s throw from the outfield was relayed by Rodriguez who threw Gschwind out at the plate. On the very next play, Adam Eaton hit a routine ground ball to Rodriguez that should have sent the game into extra innings, but the ball went under Rodriguez’s glove and the game was over.

Langfels (1-1), a third baseman by trade, received the loss for EKU, going a whole inning and allowing just one unearned run on one hit.

Sophomore Matt Fyffe started on the mound for the Colonels and went 1.2 innings without allowing a hit or a run. Freshman Matt Harris replaced Fyffe in the second and worked 2.1 innings, holding Miami scoreless on just one hit. Freshman Greg Terry was tagged with the three runs in the fifth, allowing one run and two walks in his two-thirds of an inning of work. Senior Alex Napier replaced Terry in the fifth and worked 1.1 innings overall, allowing three hits while holding the RedHawks scoreless. Sophomore Macon Smith worked 1.2 innings and allowed three runs on three hits while senior David Owens did not retire a batter in the eighth and allowed one run before giving way to Langfels.

Jordan Jankowski (5-1) was credited with the win for Miami as he held the Colonels scoreless in the top of the ninth.

The Colonels were led at the plate by Rodriguez, who finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Senior Tyler Rehmel, meanwhile, batted 2-for-5 with an RBI on the day.

The RedHawks were paced offensively by Eubank’s 2-for-3 with two runs scored performance and Jon Edgington’s 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI performance.

EKU plated a run in the first inning without even recording a hit. Davis drew a walk to begin the game, went to second on a walk to senior Aaron Barrows and advanced to third on a fly out to right by Rehmel. Langfels then plated him with an RBI groundout to second, giving the Colonels an early 1-0 advantage.

The Colonels got to RedHawk starter Nick Kurash early as the right-hander walked three batters and hit another in the first inning alone and was replaced by Ryan Meyers before the inning ended.

EKU put another run across the plate in the third. With one out in the inning, freshman Jacob Daniel singled to right, stole second, went to third on a throwing error by the catcher and then advanced home on a throwing error by the center fielder, making it 2-0.

Rodriguez doubled to lead off the fourth, swiped third base and then came home on a groundout by Barrows as the Colonels continued to expand upon their lead, going up 3-0.

The RedHawks stormed back in the home half of the fifth. Terry came on in that inning and recorded two outs but gave up a base hit and two walks to load the bases before being replaced in favor of Napier. Napier then allowed two consecutive singles to unload the bases and tie the score at 3-3.

EKU staged a two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth and retook the lead on another throwing error by RedHawk catcher, Eric Darlage. With two down, Rodriguez drew a walk and then went to second on a base hit by Davis. With Barrows at the plate, Rodriguez and Davis attempted a double steal. When the throw to second went into the outfield, both runners scored to put the Colonels up 5-3.

The Colonels were not done, however. Following two straight singles by Barrows and Rehmel, Langfels laced a ball into left field that plated Barrows and pushed the Colonels’ lead to 6-3.

EKU went ahead 7-3 in the eighth when, with one out, Barrows tripled to right center and then scored off a double to deep left by Rehmel.

The Colonels return to action this weekend at Turkey Hughes Field when they host Chicago State in a three game series. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.