Miami Ohio University Athletics
RedHawks Make 11th Consecutive MAC Tournament Appearance
5/22/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 22, 2007
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MIAMI MAKES 11th CONSECUTIVE MAC TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE: Miami is making its 11th consecutive Mid-American Conference Tournament appearance. During that span, Miami has won two tournament titles to earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, winning the 2000 tournament and the 2005 tournament. After falling to Central Michigan in the first game of the 2006 tournament, Miami came back to defeat Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan to advance to the tournament semifinals where it lost to Kent State.
MIAMI VERSUS THE TOURNAMENT FIELD: The RedHawks own a 5-5 record against the Mid-American Conference Tournament field, posting a three-game series sweep against Toledo in the opening MAC weekend, dropping its lone meeting with Eastern Michigan, going 1-2 at Northern Illinois and 1-2 at home against Kent State. Miami and Central Michigan did not meet during the regular season.
FIRST TIME FOES?: Miami and Central Michigan are meeting for the first time this season in the first game of the Mid-American Conference Tournament. Over the past 10 MAC tournaments, the RedHawks have faced the Chippewas eight times, forging a 6-2 record. Last season, the teams met twice in the MAC Tourney with CMU posting an 8-2 win on the first day and Miami coming back with a 6-3 win later in the tournament. In 2005, CMU knocked off Miami 5-0 before the RedHawks downed the Chippewas twice--5-2 and 10-6--to capture the tournament title. The teams also met in the 2004 tournament with Miami winning 6-0, the 2000 tournament with Miami posting a 7-3 win, and the 1998 tournament with Miami winning 6-5.
REDHAWKS ENTER MAC TOURNEY ON HIGH NOTE: Coming off a decisive 13-0 win against Akron in its regular-season finale, Miami University's baseball team enters the MAC Tournament on a high note. The RedHawks have produced two of their most lopsided victories over the past seven games after Saturday's 13-0 win and an 18-4 triumph at Ohio on May 13. Miami is making its 13th Mid-American Conference Tournament appearance, earning its 11th consecutive MAC Tourney berth.
TRIPLE THREAT: This season, Miami has amassed 22 triples, which is almost triple its season total in 2006 (8). Six Miami players have collected at least two three-baggers led by junior Evan Armitage's seven triples. In the last NCAA rankings, Armitage ranked 11th nationally and first in the MAC in league-only contests. As a team, the RedHawks ranked 15th nationally in triples.
CLIMBING UP THE CHARTS: Three RedHawks are climbing the Miami career charts. Senior outfielder Brandon Hillier moved to third in career hits (252) and at-bats (784), ties for fourth in career triples (11) and is tied for ninth in career doubles (39). Hillier also has scored 139 runs in his career ranking ninth on Miami's career list. Hillier is just one total bases away from cracking that top 10 list. Senior Jeff Day moved into sole possession of third place for career appearances (73), while junior John Ely jumped to third in strikeouts (278) and ties for sixth in wins (25). Ely also ranks 10th in career innings pitched (274.2).
HIT PARADE: Miami's offense has recorded double figures in hits 29 times this season, including 13 in its regular-season finale against Akron on May 19.
DEJA VU: Junior righthanded pitcher Chris Niro pitched his first complete game shutout, leading the RedHawks to a 4-0 win over Cincinnati on May 16. Niro's pitching performance was the first time a Miami pitcher has thrown a complete game shutout in almost two years. Graham Taylor threw the last complete game shutout on May 21, 2005, at Kent State en route to a 4-0 Miami win. The effort was dubbed InsidePitching.com's Great Lakes Region Performance of the Week.
REDHAWKS AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS: With a Mid-American Conference leading .972 fielding percentage entering the week, Miami University's baseball team ranks 23rd nationally in the category. The RedHawks also rank 15th nationally in triples in the last NCAA rankings. Junior Evan Armitage ranks 11th nationally in triples, while junior pitcher John Ely ranks 96th nationally in wins and 76th in strikeouts. Junior pitcher Connor Graham ranks 90th in strikeouts per nine innings.
MAC ATTACK: Several RedHawks rank among conference statistical leaders as of May 21:
Jeff Carroll Batting Avg.: .341, 10th/.370, 8th* On Base Pct.: .444, 9th*Jordan Petraitis Triples: (4) .08, 7th/(2) .08, t-9th Batting Avg.: .347, 16th*
Brandon Hillier Hits: (71) 1.34, 10th Runs Scored: (46) 0.87, t-7th Batting Avg.: .329, 16th
Evan Armitage Triples: (7) .13, 4th/(5) .20, 1st*
Chris Nadeau Runs Scored: (46) .88, 6th/(26) 1.04, 5th* On-Base Pct.: .422, 10th/.446, 8th* Walks: (15) .60, 10th*
Josh Hula Triples: (3) .07, 8th
Eric Darlage RBIs: (23) .92, 8th*
John Ely Innings Pitched: (95.2) 7.36, 2nd/(67.2) 7.52, t-2nd* Wins: 7, t-2nd/5, t-6th* Complete Games: 2, t-3rd Opp. Batting Avg.: .246, 5th/.249, 9th* ERA: 2.85, 4th/2.39, 5th* Strikeouts: (90) 8.47, 5th/(70) 9.31, 3rd* Games Started: 13, t-3rd
Connor Graham Strikeouts: (74) 8.96, 3rd/(52) 8.67, 5th* Innings Pitched: (74.1) 6.19, 10th/(54.0) 6.75, 10th* ERA: 4.24, 18th/3.83, 11th*
Bailey Pratt Appearances: 26, t-3rd Saves: 5, t-6th/3, t-6th*
Bobby Oberschlake Appearances: 26, t-3rd/12, t-7th*
Chris Niro Shutouts: 1, t-3rd
*Denotes MAC-Only Games
