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Miami University's Kyle Weldon knocks a ground ball to first base during the team's home opener against Northern Kentucky Wednesday March 17, 2010, at McKie Field in Oxford.

Staff photo by Nick Daggy Miami University's Kyle Weldon knocks a ground ball to first base during the team's home opener against Northern Kentucky Wednesday March 17, 2010, at McKie Field in Oxford.

RedHawks get good challenge in 3-1 win in home opener against Division II Norse.

By Rick Cassano, Staff Writer Updated 4:28 PM Thursday, March 18, 2010

OXFORD — Miami University’s baseball team made a triumphant home debut Wednesday, March 17.

It felt like spring on a bright, 60-degree afternoon at McKie Field at Hayden Park, and the RedHawks responded with a 3-1 triumph over Northern Kentucky.

“I’m liking the progress,” MU coach Dan Simonds said. “The defense and pitching have been pretty good. We’ve just got to keep improving.”

Freshman Mac Thoreson pitched the first two innings to get the victory for Miami (7-7), which ran its winning streak to five.

Joe Neff, Brandon Adkins, Sam Dawes, Matt Rosinski, Kyle Donawerth, Jamaal Hollis and Jordan Jankowski followed Thoreson to the hill and completed a six-hitter. Jankowski threw a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his second save.

“Mac Thoreson is going to be a guy that we’re probably going to move into the starting rotation, so to get him a start and get him into that mind-set was very, very important,” Simonds said. “The rest of those guys, that’s our bullpen. They’re going to be a big part of our success.”

Adam Eaton and Jankowski both had two hits and an RBI for MU. Brad Gschwind and Zak Hatfield added two hits apiece, and Ryan Kaup also plated a run.

Starter Jarrett Casey gave up one run in two innings and took the loss for the Division II Norse (11-5).

“Miami’s good — it’s fun to watch them play,” NKU coach Todd Asalon said. “I thought we played pretty well for the most part. We just didn’t get the big hit. I guess that’s kind of how baseball goes.”

Northern Kentucky’s lone run came against Donawerth, a Lakota West High School graduate, in the seventh as Pat Muth and Evan McDole delivered back-to-back doubles.

“We knew this was going to be like a Division I game,” Simonds said. “If you look at their roster, more than half of those guys are Division I transfers, including two from Miami (left fielder Jason Cisper and closer Chase Stewart).”

Said Asalon, “We didn’t come here to lose close. We came here to win.”

The Norse roster includes four Butler County players: Stewart (Edgewood), Mike Roe (Madison), Zach Toerner (Badin) and Brent Wagner (Lakota West). The first two didn’t see action, the latter two are being redshirted.

Gschwind, another West graduate, has moved from shortstop to second base since Jon Edgington suffered a wrist injury about two weeks ago.

Gschwind, a junior, made his 69th straight start Wednesday and raised his batting average to .298.

“The biggest thing is winning,” Gschwind said. “If you’re winning, it’s always a good season.”

Miami hits the road for a three-game series at Jacksonville (Ala.) State this weekend.

»View a photo gallery at Journal-News.com/sports

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