DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — It was supposed to be a duel between two of the top pitchers in the Mid-American Conference.

Instead, it was Bambi versus Godzilla.

Splat.

Starring in the role of Godzilla was Miami University's John Ely.

Actually, it was more like Bambi vs. Godzilla I and Godzilla II. Take a bow, Evan Armitage.

The RedHawks socked it to the Bowling Green Falcons 12-2 Friday night at McKie Field as Ely, Miami's junior ace, tied his career high with 14 strikeouts in just seven innings and Armitage, the RedHawks' junior second baseman and leadoff hitter, went 4-for-5 with two triples, a double and a single.

It was the second straight lopsided victory for the RedHawks (21-16 overall, 9-5 MAC), who had pulled away from Indiana 10-1 on Wednesday. Ely and Armitage agreed that the two wins were exactly what Miami needed.

"We needed to get back the swagger we had at the beginning of the year and play some really good baseball," Ely said.

"Coming off a rough stretch (six losses in seven games), it hasn't been the same baseball we've been playing all year," Armitage pointed out. "The last two games definitely boosted the confidence of this team."

The four hits also were a boost for Armitage, who had come into the game batting .246.

"I've been having a difficult season so far," Armitage said. "Tonight I was swinging early in the count. Earlier this season I had been hitting later in the count, not swinging at my pitches. Now I'm seeing the ball a lot better as well."

Ely, who allowed only one earned run while racking up his seventh victory, allowed four hits (including a solo homer by designated hitter Josh Dietz) in the first two innings but dominated the next five innings.

"They were taking some real good swings at the ball," Ely said, "but then I tried to change it up, keep them off balance. I try to throw a couple different pitches. I trust my fastball, but it would be nothing without my off-speed."

The main victim on a night that was all Miami, all the time, was Bowling Green starting pitcher Eric Johnson, who had started the day ranked among the MAC leaders with a 2.67 ERA, just a tad better than Ely's ERA of 3.15.

It took the RedHawks only four pitches to ruin Johnson's day. A triple to left by Armitage, a double to right by Brandon Hiller, a two-run homer to right by Jordan Petraitis. Four pitches, nine total bases, three runs.

It didn't get much better for the senior right-hander.

By the time he was pulled, mercifully, from the slaughter in the second inning, he had retired three batters and allowed nine hits, a walk and seven runs.

The two teams will play the second of their three-game series today at McKie, starting at 5 p.m. The finale is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.

Bowling Green 020 000 010 — 2 6 1

Miami 510 204 00x — 12 15 0

WP — John Ely (7-2); LP — Tyler Johnson (5-4); HR — BG: Josh Dietz (3); M: Jordan Petraitis (4)

C

ontact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.