The Redhawks faced a significant challenge as they took on the Cardinals, who had a strong record against Miami. Despite losing the first two games of the weekend, Miami was determined to prove their abilities. On Sunday, April 7th, they clinched a resounding 11-1 victory. Miami’s defense set the tone early, holding the Cardinals scoreless in the first inning.
The momentum shifted when Dillon Baker and Zaborowski’s double put Miami in a promising position. Zach MacDonald’s RBI sac fly and Appelwick’s ground ball brought in three runs, ending the first inning with Miami leading 3-0. Novak’s successful run further solidified their advantage. The Cardinals struggled to score in the following innings, allowing Miami to maintain their momentum.
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Gordon and Zaborowski added two more runs in the second inning, while Novak contributed another in the third. Although Ball State managed to score in the fourth inning, Miami regained control for the remainder of the game. Their relentless offense continued in the fifth inning, with consecutive walks to Ryan Novak and Appelwick setting the stage for another surge. A crucial throwing error after Blake Buzzeo’s fielder’s choice extended Miami’s lead further.
Miami secured three more runs in the final two innings, with R. Novak scoring in the seventh and Batusich and MacDonald adding runs in the last inning. These runs were instrumental in sealing the 11-1 victory. Despite facing two losses earlier in the series, Miami demonstrated resilience and determination in their final game, improving their season record to 13-16.
