AKRON (Interstat) — Tommy Harrison homered and drove in five runs, leading the Miami-Ohio Redhawks to a 17-6 victory over the Akron Zips on Thursday afternoon at InfoCision Stadium.

Miami-Ohio scored eight runs in the first inning and never trailed, taking command of the Mid-American Conference matchup. The Redhawks improved to 36-15 overall, while Akron fell to 20-32.

The game turned decisively in the top of the first. Marcus Dierks was hit by a pitch and later scored on a single by Harrison that also advanced Evan Appelwick to third. Ignacio Gonzalez singled home Appelwick. After a throwing error by Zips pitcher John Allen loaded the bases, Jamie Rasmussen walked to force in Harrison. Diego Cruz singled to score Gonzalez, and Dominic Krupinski cleared the bases with a grand slam to left field, giving the Redhawks an 8-0 lead before Akron recorded its first out.

Akron answered with a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Brody Chrisman. Blake Bowen homered in the fourth to cut the deficit to 8-2, and the Zips mounted a rally in the fifth. Brady Bowen singled in Kelton Phillips, and Easton Amundson followed with a two-run homer, pulling Akron within 8-5. Miami-Ohio starter Zac Sohosky lasted five innings, striking out seven but allowing five earned runs on no hits — a line skewed by walks and defensive miscues.

Miami-Ohio regained momentum in the seventh. With reliever Jake Tedesco on the mound, the Redhawks capitalized on a Zips error to add two unearned runs. Dierks singled in Matt Buffington, and the Redhawks carried a 10-5 lead into the eighth.

The Redhawks exploded for seven runs in the eighth, with Harrison delivering the knockout blow. After singles by Ignacio Gonzalez, Ryan Novak and Christopher Roa loaded the bases, Diego Cruz singled in a run. Krupinski walked to force in another, and Dierks singled to bring home Cruz. Harrison then launched a grand slam to left field, scoring Dierks, Krupinski and Appelwick. Brennan Morgan relieved for Akron and retired the side, but the damage was done.

Akron scored once in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Henry Hayman off Austin Berggren, who pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief to secure the win. Berggren struck out one and did not allow a hit.

Miami-Ohio finished with 11 hits and drew seven walks. Dierks went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, two hit-by-pitches and two stolen bases. Krupinski drove in five runs on his first-inning grand slam and a walk. Harrison’s eight-inning grand slam gave him his career-high fifth RBI of the game. The Redhawks stole two bases and forced Akron into three errors.

Akron managed 10 hits. Amundson drove in two runs on his fifth-inning homer. Blake Bowen also homered. Zips starter Landon Vandegrift pitched six innings in relief of Allen, allowing two earned runs on three hits while striking out three. Vandegrift entered after Allen was removed in the first inning and settled the game for several frames before Miami-Ohio’s late surge.

Miami-Ohio entered the game having won three straight against Massachusetts and six of its last seven overall. The Redhawks have scored at least 10 runs in each of their last four victories. Akron had lost four of its previous five before Thursday’s contest.

The two teams are scheduled to meet again Friday and Saturday to conclude the series.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Miami-Ohio 8, Akron 3. The Interstat ELO system had projected Miami-Ohio with a 75.10 percent probability to win.