MIAMI – The Towson University baseball team earned a three-run fifth inning to tie the game against No. 7 Miami, but fell in the Sunday matinee 9-3.
Down 3-0, Towson (2-7) pieced together four hits, including an RBI double by
Colin Conroy and a game-tying RBI single from
Javon Fields, for a three-run fifth to even the game at 3-3. Miami (8-3) got the lead back with five runs in the bottom of the sixth and held the advantage the rest of the way.
Key Stats:
- Brandon Austin earned his first multi-hit performance as a Tiger, reaching base three times on a 2-for-3 day with a walk and a stolen base. Colin Conroy finished with an RBI double, going 1-for-2 with a walk and run while Trent Gast-Woodard got on base twice, being 1-for-3 with a run and a walk.
- On the mound, Tyler Russo did not have a decision in his start, throwing 2.2 innings with three runs and two strikeouts. The loss went to Kody Reeser (1-1) who had four charged in an inning pitched. Each Cam Clark and Teddy Blumenauer has scoreless relief outings, going 1.1 and one inning respectively.
- For Miami, Anthony Vilar was the top batter, hitting 2-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored. Starter Slade Cecconi went 4.1 innings with three runs and eight strikeouts in a no-decision. Reliever Jake Garland (1-0) got the victory for a scoreless sixth inning.
How it Happened:
- Miami used a hit-by-pitch, a pair of stolen bases and two hits to get a pair of runs in the opening inning and lead 2-0.
- Tyler Russo got out of the second with two on and two out, inducing a ground out to end the frame. In the third, an Alex Toral RBI single gave Miami a 3-0 advantage.
- Back-to-back one-out singles set up first and third in the top of the fifth. Brandon Austin drew a rundown and stole second, allowing Trent Gast-Woodard to steal home. Colin Conroy was still at-bat, hitting an RBI double to bring in Austin. Two batters later with Conroy on third, Javon Fields lined a ball just past the diving second baseman for an RBI single, tying the game at 3-3.
- After a 1-2-3 inning by Kody Reeser in the fifth, Miami got the bases loaded in the sixth. A Tony Jenkins walk, then a Luis Tuero two-run single two batters later, put the Hurricanes back in the lead. Another two-run single by Anthony Vilar made the score 8-3 Miami.
- The Tigers looked to rally in the top of the seventh, loading the bases on a Gast-Woodard walk, Austin double and Conroy walk. But, two flyouts and a ground out kept Towson from scoring. Miami tacked on another run in the seventh to lead 9-3.
- Towson had another chance in the top of the eighth, getting first and second with one out, but a strikeout and flyout ended the inning. Teddy Blumenauer threw a 1-2-3 eighth, but Miami held for the 9-3 victory.
Inside the Numbers:
- Colin Conroy has hit safely in five consecutive games. He and Javon Fields earned hits in each of the three games at Miami.
Next Game:
The Tigers have their home opener on Tuesday, March 3
rd at 2 p.m. vs. local rival UMBC at John B. Schuerholz Park. Admission is free for all fans.