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Sports TwitterMiami blanks UC with two-hit pitching performance
RedHawks head into final series of regular season with a chance to overtake Kent State for MAC East title.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
OXFORD — If Miami University baseball coach Dan Simonds had a wish list going into Wednesday night's game against the Cincinnati Bearcats, Chris Niro granted every one.
The junior right-hander, who plays most of his games in right field, made his fourth start on the mound and pitched a masterpiece for the RedHawks, tossing a two-hit shutout as Miami defeated UC 4-0 at McKie Field.
Extras
Niro's first collegiate complete game did a lot for the RedHawks (29-21). It gave Miami's bullpen some much-needed rest, it put Niro squarely into the picture as a key hurler for next week's Mid-American Conference Tournament, and it gave the RedHawks a chance to end the regular season with some real momentum.
"This is a team that's been able to get on some runs," Simonds said of Miami. "Hopefully that'll be the case now."
"The biggest thing we can do right now is set a tone and finish this last MAC series solidly," said Niro, who retired the side in order in six of his nine innings and finished with five strikeouts and only one walk. "Baseball is a game of momentum, and our team is feeling it right now."
Miami, which has won three of its last four, will play its final three-game series starting today at 6:30 p.m. at home against the Akron Zips.
The RedHawks are in second place in the MAC East Division, trailing first-place Kent State, which has two more wins than Miami; the teams have an equal number of losses. Since the teams will end the regular season with a different number of MAC games played, the champion will be determined strictly by winning percentage.
"We want to win the East Division. We're ready to after this weekend hard," Simonds said, adding, however, that he will be careful with the way he uses starting pitchers John Ely and Connor Graham since they will be needed in the tournament, which starts next Wednesday at either Central Michigan or Eastern Michigan.
If Miami can stay in the tournament long enough, it's likely that Niro also will be given a chance to start.
"He's been effective as a starter," Simonds said. "He seems to feel comfortable in that role. He's swinging the bat pretty good, too."
Niro is batting .271 and has five doubles and nine RBIs. Miami didn't need his bat Thursday against the Bearcats (27-26).
The RedHawks took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Brandon Hillier reached on an infield single and, following a walk to Jordan Petraitis and a UC error, scored on a ground out by Eric Darlage.
The hit was the 250th of Hillier's career. He ranks third on Miami's all-time list, trailing only Clark Mace (316 from 1998-2001) and John Slone (261 from 2002-05). Hiller scored again in the third inning when he singled, stole second and eventually crossed the plate on a passed ball.
