Dan Quinn

OXFORD, OH - Crooked numbers in four of the first five innings for Miami (OH) were more than enough to open up a seven-run lead and hold on for an 8-5 win against the University at Buffalo baseball team in Mid-American Conference action at McKie Field on Sunday afternoon.

Miami (23-12 overall, 7-2 MAC), which is the top team in the MAC East Division, has never lost to Buffalo (11-19 overall, 1-6 MAC), winning all 17 matches between the two schools since Buffalo joined the MAC in 2001.

The RedHawks started by scoring two runs in the first, taking advantage of an error, a single and a wild pitch to manufacture two runs. In the third inning, the RedHawks added two more to open up a 4-0 lead, as Ryne Robinson singled to lead off and Brandon Hillier followed with a triple. Hillier later scored on a groundout.

In the fourth inning, Jason Brown walked with one out, stole second and took third on a single by Eric Radley. Brown scored when Radley was caught trying to steal second to make it 5-0.

David Amaro

Buffalo finally scratched a run across in the bottom of the fourth off starter John Ely, as junior designated hitter David Amaro (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) homered to left field for his third of the year.

Miami answered back with three runs in the fifth to take an 8-1 lead, as John Slone walked and Brian Canada doubled to score Slone followed by a two-run homer from Paul Frietch.

The Bulls fought back to within three in the sixth inning, as sophomore second baseman Al Barbato (Utica, NY/Whitesboro) doubled to right field and freshman third baseman Mike Folli (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) singled. A walk by senior center fielder Phil Vanhorne (Scarborough, Ontario/Mother Teresa) loaded the bases and a sacrifice fly scored Barbato before sophomore Dan Quinn (Hamburg, NY/Frontier) blasted his fifth home run of the year to close the gap to 8-5.

Ely settled down, though, to allow only one of the last 12 batters he faced to reach base, as Vanhorne singled in the eighth inning. Ely (5-1) finished with eight strikeouts in the complete game, allowing six hits, two walks and five runs.

Senior Chris McGraw (Summerville, SC/Stratford/Coffeyville CC) (1-2) took the loss for the Bulls, yielding seven earned runs, six hits and three walks in five innings. He struck out four. Junior Sean McWilliams (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) pitched two scoreless frames of relief, allowing a hit and a walk, striking out one before sophomore Matt Francavillo (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) retired the side in order in the eighth.

Mike Folli

Folli continued his hot conference hitting, going 2-for-4 to raise his MAC average to .407 (11-for-27). The true freshman also leads the team with a .314 average.

Hillier and Canada each had two hits to pace the Miami offense.

After 30 games on the road, the Bulls will finally get to host a team on Wednesday afternoon, becoming the final team in the MAC to open up a home slate. They face reigning Atlantic 10 champion and Big 4 rival St. Bonaventure in a 1:00 pm twinbill.