Baseball splits twin bill against Miami (OH)
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Feb. 22, 2025) – The ETSU baseball team split a doubleheader against Miami (OH) on Saturday afternoon at Thomas Stadium. Miami won game one by a score of 12-2 in eight innings. In the second contest of the day, which was scheduled for seven innings, the two teams played an extra frame and freshman Henry Ferguson walked off the Redhawks with a pinch-hit RBI single to win it for the Bucs, 2-1. Saturday’s results move ETSU’s record in 2025 to 4-2.
Game One Recap – The first game of the day was all Redhawks. After Miami scratched across the first run of the game in the second, Ferguson promptly tied the game with a RBI triple to pull the Bucs even, 1-1. However, the Redhawks used a benefit of a pair of walks and a hit batter to set up a grand slam by Evan Appelwick. The next hitter, David Novak, also left the ballpark on a solo shot to grow Miami’s advantage to five, 6-1.
A RBI groundout in the fourth made the score 7-1 Miami. ETSU did get one back in the fifth as Grant Gallagher slugged his third home run of the young season. Unfortunately for the Bucs, the Redhawk bats remained hot with a three-run home run in the sixth and a two-run shot in the eighth to make it 12-2 Miami. That ended up being the final score in eight innings.
In addition to the hits by Ferguson and Gallagher mentioned above, Jamie Palmese, Cody Miller, Cooper Torres and Will Smoot also added base hits for ETSU.
Game Two Recap – Unlike in game one, the second tilt of the day was a pitchers’ duel. Miami’s Clayton Burke and ETSU’s Jace Hyde matched each other for most the game. Gallagher gave the Bucs the lead with his second home run of the day, fourth of the season, to give the Bucs an early 1-0 advantage in the third.
An RBI single by the Redhawks in the fifth knotted the game at 1-1. It looked like the visitors would win the second game in the top of the seventh as they had the bases loaded without a hit. Colin Eaton came up big to get the Bucs out of the jam. After Eaton sat the Redhawks down in order in the eighth, the Bucs had a chance win it in the bottom half.
Palmese sparked the rally with a one-out single. A pair of Miami errors gave ETSU another out to play with. This extra chance proved to be what the Bucs needed as Ferguson came through as he came off the bench and delivered a single to score Palmese and even the series at a game a piece.
Next Up – ETSU and Miami will close out the three-game series tomorrow afternoon at Thomas Stadium. First pitch for the rubber match is set for 1 p.m.
For more information on Buccaneer baseball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the baseball tab.
