Justin Gorski digs his cleats into the left-handed batter’s box. The Miami RedHawk true freshman has come in to pinch-hit in the bottom of the ninth inning. The RedHawks are down 3-2 with one out at home April 4 again Mid -American Conference (MAC) rival Ball State. On the first pitch, Gorski rips a single into center field.

Pinch hitter Anthony Zarlingo bats next, smacking a grounder up the middle. It’s hit to the Ball State shortstop who flips it to second base who throws to first where the visitors turn a game-ending double play. Final score: 3-2, BSU. 

The Cardinals (20-13, 7-8) took game one of three in the RedBird rivalry from the RedHawks (13-16, 8-7). Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Week, Merritt Beeker is credited with the win. RedHawks starting pitcher Patrick Mastrian IV allowed an early run in the first inning. 

“Credit to the defense behind me, I didn’t have many strikeouts today and the defense picked me up,” Mastrian IV said.

After the Cardinals took an early lead, Miami’s Tyler Gordon tripled down the line, which scored baserunner Blake Buzzeo in the bottom of the fifth. Gordon, tried to go for the inside the park homerun and was called out at the plate, leaving the score knotted at one. 

After the Cardinals scored twice off of Peyton Olejnik in the top of the sixth, Zach MacDonald started the bottom half by drawing a walk. On the second pitch of Ryland Zaborowski’s at-bat, MacDonald took off for second but was thrown out at second. On the next pitch, Zaborowski homered off of Beeker.

That was the last run scored by either side. 

Regardless of the mistakes on the baserunning paths, it was the lack of clutch offense that did the RedHawks in. Coach Brian Smiley summed up the game bluntly. 

“They got the timely hits and we didn’t,” said Smiley.  

The RedHawks will be away from home for their next eight games. The long road trip starts Friday, April 12, in Kalamazoo with a three game weekend series against Western Michigan.