Miami (OH) defeated Toledo 10-4 on Friday at Crushers Stadium in Avon, Ohio, advancing in the winner’s bracket as the top seed and ending Toledo’s six-game winning streak, sending the Rockets, the fifth seed, to the loser’s bracket and putting them on the brink of elimination.
“You have to stay in the winner’s bracket. It’s the name of the game in any tournament that you’re in, stay out of the loser’s bracket. It was good to see our guys play loose and play with a chip on their shoulder,” Miami head coach Brian Smiley said.
Only three Rockets earned a hit at the plate, with redshirt sophomore infielder Troy Sudbrook and sophomore infielder Charlie Scholvin collecting two apiece and senior outfielder Caden Konczak delivering a single knock.
On the other side, senior catcher David Novak, junior third baseman Dominic Krupinski, senior designated hitter Ty Batusich and redshirt sophomore right fielder Tommy Harrison drove in two runs apiece.
The game began as a pitcher’s duel between Toledo’s sophomore left-hander Jacob Tabor and Miami’s junior left-hander Hayden Cuthbertson for the first two frames, with the two combining for six strikeouts early.
Cuthbertson earned the win, allowing four runs, three of which were earned, on five hits in 6.0 innings. He did not allow a walk, striking out five batters and throwing 86 pitches.
“We have the pitcher of the year here with Cooper Katskee, and we decided to throw Hayden Cuthbertson in game one just on the left-on-left matchups, and he answered the bell,” Smiley said.
Meanwhile, Tabor suffered the loss, giving up seven runs, including five earned, on nine hits. The Lewis Center, Ohio, native walked one batter and struck out six while throwing a career-high 107 pitches in 5.0 innings.
However, the RedHawk’s offense woke up in the third inning, scoring three runs on three hits.
MU redshirt senior infielder Dillon Baker scored on a throwing error by Tabor on a pickoff attempt before redshirt junior infielder Evan Appelwick drove in senior outfielder Anthony Zarlingo with a triple. Finally, Krupinski scored Appelwick with a two-out single.
Krupinski finished the game 4-4 with two runs batted in (RBI) and two doubles. Meanwhile, Zarlingo went 4-5 at the plate with a double and a triple.
Toledo quickly responded in the top of the fourth inning, scoring two runs to make it a one-score game, 3-2.
Sudbrook scored a run with a double down the left field line before Scholvin brought home Sudbrook with a single up the middle.
Miami really opened the game up in the fifth inning, scoring four runs. Krupinski and Batusich each hit RBI singles before Harrison drove in two runs with a single, making it a 7-2 game.
However, Toledo continued to fight, scoring two more runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Sudbrook scored on a passed ball before sophomore first baseman Cole Cahill drove in Scholvin on a groundout, cutting the deficit to three runs, 7-4.
The RedHawks stayed one step ahead of the Rockets, scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth to extend their lead to 10-4.
Novak drove in two runs with a single to right center field before Batusich scored Novak on another single.
Junior left-hander Carson Byers was solid out of the bullpen for Miami, giving the RedHawks three scoreless innings and throwing just 31 pitches.
However, UT senior right-hander Brennan McCune gave up three runs on six hits in 2.2 innings pitched in relief. Toledo redshirt senior left-handed pitcher Caden Kline also appeared in the content, tossing just three pitches.
Next, Miami will play the winner of the Kent State and Ball State game at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Meanwhile, Toledo, who is one loss away from elimination, will play Eastern Michigan later today at 6 p.m.
