The University of Texas at Austin Athletics

Baseball drops series opener to Miami (Ohio), 6-2
03.09.2007 | Baseball
AUSTIN, Texas -- Despite another two home run performance by rightfielder Kyle Russell, the University of Texas dropped a 6-2 decision to Miami University in collegiate baseball action Friday evening at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Russell went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI as he posted his third two-homer game of the season.
Miami (3-4) pounced on the Horns early with two runs in the top of the first inning. With one out, Brandon Hillier was hit by a pitch, Jordan Petraitis singled up the middle and Chris Nadeau walked to load the bases. J.D. Mynhier followed with a two-run single up the middle to give the Red Hawks a 2-0 lead.
The Red Hawks added two more runs in the second inning. With one out, Blake Chaffee doubled to the right centerfield gap and scored on a triple to the right centerfield wall by Evan Armitage. Armitage scored on a single through the left side of the infield by Hillier, staking Miami to a 4-0 lead.
Miami added insurance runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth, Hillier singled to leftfield, stole second base and scored on a fielding error by UT shortstop Travis Tucker on a grounder by Mynhier. In the sixth inning, Chris Niro singled to leftfield and scored on a double by Chaffee, inflating the Red Hawks' cushion to 6-0.
Russell hit his first home run with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning and added his second with two outs in the bottom of the eighth.
John Ely (1-1) earned the victory with a complete-game performance for the Red Hawks. He allowed two runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out six Longhorns over nine innings.
James Russell (3-2) was saddled with the loss for Texas. He allowed six runs, five earned, on 10 hits and one walk while striking out five Red Hawks over 5.1 innings. Keith Shinaberry pitched 3.2 scoreless innings allowing just one walk while striking out two.
Hillier, Niro and Chaffee each went 2-for-4 to lead the Miami offense.
Texas and Miami play the second game of the three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday at 2 p.m.