OXFORD, Ohio (April 1) -- Miami University's baseball team's contest with Western Michigan University Sunday afternoon entered the ninth inning knotted at 3-3. However, Western Michigan plated eight runs in the top of the ninth to hand Miami its third-straight loss 11-3 at Stanley G. McKie Field. The loss followed the completion of Saturday’s suspended game, which Miami dropped 10-7.

With the losses, the RedHawks stand at 1-3 in the Mid-American Conference after the first weekend of conference play and 12-13 overall.

As it had in every game of the weekend series with Western Michigan, Miami jumped out to an early lead by tallying three runs in the first inning. Brady Nori (Middletown, Ohio/Middletown) and Justin Knoedler (Springfield, Ill./Springfield/Lincoln Land C.C.) collected RBI singles in the frame.

However, Bronco pitcher Pat Misch kept the RedHawk offense under wraps the rest of the day, thanks in part to picking off four Miami baserunners. Miami managed only six hits and no runs after the first inning versus the southpaw.

Western Michigan (10-11, 3-1 MAC) came back little-by-little against Miami starter Russ Bayer (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North), notching single runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings to tie the game at 3-3.

The game remained even through eight innings, before the Broncos exploded for eight runs on five hits and two Miami errors in the top of the ninth to claim the victory. Western Michigan first baseman Mike Scott concluded his 3-for-5 day at the plate with a three-run triple to right field that sealed the victory for the Broncos.

Bayer picked up the loss to drop to 1-2 for the season.

In the completion of Saturday's game that was suspended in the ninth inning due to darkness with the Broncos leading 9-7, Western Michigan added a run in the top of the ninth to make the final margin 10-7.

Justin Knoedler led the RedHawks offensively, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI, including his team-leading sixth home run of the season. Billy Kieninger (Xenia, Ohio/Xenia) collected the loss and fell to 1-3 in 2001.

Miami looks to regroup Wednesday night at local-rival Cincinnati. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at Johnny Bench Field.