Miami Ohio University Athletics
Baseball Battles for Tournament Berth as Ohio Comes Calling
5/19/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 19, 2010
Leading Off: Miami (25-26, 10-14 MAC) enters the final weekend of the regular season fighting for a spot in the upcoming MAC Tournament. The RedHawks host rival Ohio in a three-game series from Thursday to Saturday at McKie Field at Hayden Park. Thursday's and Friday's contests begin at 6 p.m. while Saturday's game, which will also be Senior Day, starts at 1 p.m. Miami currently sits in the eighth and final spot for the MAC Tournament, but Buffalo and Northern Illinois sit just a game back. The RedHawks can clinch a spot in the tournament by sweeping Ohio or winning two games combined with a Bulls loss, among other scenarios. Junior outfielder Adam Eaton rides a career-long 18-game hitting streak into the weekend. Junior reliever Sam Dawes tied Miami's career pitching appearances record with his 80th career trip to the mound on May 16 at Buffalo. Last weekend, the 'Hawks were swept at Buffalo, the first time ever being swept by the Bulls.
The Series: The RedHawks and Bobcats have met 215 times previously dating back to 1915, with Miami trailing 120-94 all-time. Last year, the 'Hawks hosted Ohio as well with Miami winning the series opener 13-5 before dropping the final two games. The Bobcats swept Miami in 2008 in Athens and have won seven of the last nine meetings. The RedHawks last won a series over Ohio in 2006 in Oxford, winning the final two games of the three-game set.
About the Bobcats: After getting off to a 2-22 to start, Ohio (20-30, 13-11 MAC) has rebounded strongly, going 18-8 over its last 26 games, including winning its last six with sweeps over Buffalo and Akron. The Bobcats have already secured a berth in the MAC Tournament, as they sit third in the East Division and seventh overall. Ohio bats .303 as a team but relies heavily on the longball, as the 'Cats lead the league with 74 home runs and boast a .487 slugging percentage. Junior outfielder Gauntlett Eldemire and fellow junior Robert Maddox are two of the MAC's top players, as Eldemire has team bests of 15 stolen bases, a .409 average (second in the MAC) and a .751 slugging percentage (first in the MAC) with 15 homers while Maddox has a team-high 19 round-trippers and 71 RBI, both tops in the league, while batting .381 and slugging .744 (second in the MAC). Friday starter Jason Moulton's 3.31 ERA is second in the league among starting pitchers.
On Deck: Should Miami qualify, the RedHawks would head to Chillicothe, Ohio for the eight-team Mid-American Conference Tournament from Wednesday, May 26 to Saturday, May 29, which is held at VA Memorial Stadium. If Miami does not qualify, the Ohio series would be its final games of the season.
MAC Tournament Scenarios: While Miami currently sits in the eighth and final spot for the upcoming MAC Tournament (May 26-29), the RedHawks have not yet clinched a berth and will look to do so this weekend in the regular-season finale against Ohio. With a sweep of the Bobcats, Miami would earn the No. 7 seed while two wins over Ohio coupled with a Buffalo loss would give the RedHawks the No. 8 seed. If Buffalo and Northern Illinois were both swept, Miami would not need to win any games to earn a berth while one victory over the Bobcats combined with two Bulls losses AND one loss by NIU would also get the 'Hawks into the MAC Tournament.
Senior Day Saturday: Miami's game against Ohio on Saturday, May 22 will be Senior Day as the RedHawks will honor their five seniors before the regular-season finale. The five seniors who will be recognized are pitchers Reece Asbury and Kyle Donawerth, outfielder Zak Hatfield, and pitchers Jamaal Hollis and Brandon Meister.
Dawes Frequenting the Mound, Climbing the Charts: Junior left-hander Sam Dawes, who tied the Miami single-season pitching appearances record in 2009 with 34, tied the RedHawks' career pitching appearances record with his 80th trip to the mound May 16 at Buffalo. His 21 trips to the mound in 2010 have moved him into a tie with Tim Guinan (1995-98) for first on the all-time list. Dawes trekked to the mound 25 times as a freshman in 2008. For the complete list of career appearances, see page 20.
It's a Walk-Off: Four times in a little over a month, the RedHawks have won in their final at-bat to earn a walk-off victory. Most recently, Miami scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning May 7 vs. Kent State to overcome a 9-6 deficit and win 10-9, as junior Kyle Weldon slapped a two-RBI single through the infield to cap the comeback. Miami had quite a bit of excitement surrounding its weekend series with Akron April 23-25, as well, as the RedHawks won the first two games of the set in walk-off fashion, after giving up leads late in the game. On Friday, April 23, the Zips tied the game at 5-5 in the eighth inning only to see sophomore DH Jordan Jankowski single down the left-field line in the bottom of the 12th to score Weldon and give the 'Hawks a 6-5 victory. The next day, Akron scored two in the top of the ninth to even the game at four, but Weldon drilled a three-run bomb to dead center in the bottom of the ninth for another walk-off win, 7-4.
Miami completed one of the greatest comebacks in program history on April 13 against Xavier in the opening round of the second annual Joe Nuxhall Classic. The RedHawks scored eight runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to earn a 12-11 walk-off win, after entering the frame trailing 11-4. Miami scored the first seven runs to tie the game without recording an out, as 10 RedHawks came to the plate in the inning while seven notched hits. Junior shortstop Ryan Kaup, who would hit his first home run as a RedHawk a day later vs. Cincinnati in the championship game, had the game-winning single that scored freshman Cory Klenke from second base, setting off a wild celebration at home plate. Miami's eight-run, ninth-inning comeback was its largest since erasing an 11-run deficit in the ninth frame against Kent State on May 16, 2008, as the 'Hawks scored 12 to take the game, 17-16.
Jankowski of All Trades: Sophomore right-handed pitcher/catcher Jordan Jankowski has done a little bit of everything for the RedHawks in 2010. He smacked the game-winning, walk-off single in the bottom of the 12th April 23 against Akron after tossing 3.1 scoreless innings of relief on the mound. On April 10 vs. NIU, the sophomore started as the designated hitter but took the mound in relief and earned the win, as he worked the final two innings and struck out five. Seven times in 2010 Jankowski has started at DH and later taken the mound in relief and earned the save (March 10 vs. Yale, March 17 vs. Northern Kentucky, March 27 vs. Central Michigan, April 6 at Xavier, April 20 vs. Indiana, May 2 at Bowling Green and May 11 at Cincinnati). He has nine saves on the year (second in the MAC, tied for second on Miami's all-time single-season list and tied for 21st nationally), giving him 14 for his career, which ties for second on Miami's all-time saves list (see page 20 for a complete list). Jankowski also has a 3-3 record on the mound, with the three wins tying for second on the team.
In Miami's three-game series at Auburn March 5-7, he played a different position each game. Friday, March 5, Jankowski came out of the bullpen to pitch in relief, on Saturday he started at catcher and Sunday he made his first collegiate start at first base, when he also drilled his first career home run. The McMurray, Pa., native has also started as Miami's DH 32 times and is batting .292 on the year with 32 RBI and is tied for second on the team with eight home runs, including his first career multi-homer game April 3 at Ball State.
Jankowski almost single-handedly defeated Louisiana-Lafayette in Miami's 7-5 11-inning win Feb. 27, as he both pitched and hit in the extra sessions. On the mound, he threw the final three innings, including both extra innings, without allowing a run or a hit, while strikeout out five to earn the win. In the top of the 11th inning, Jankowski was forced to bat because Miami lost its designated hitter in the lineup and he hit the go-ahead two-RBI single before securing the win with his arm in the bottom of the frame.
Eaton a Triple Threat, Breaks Career Three-Baggers Record: With a triple April 23 vs. Akron, junior outfielder Adam Eaton became Miami's all-time leader in triples, passing Chris Sexton (1990-93) for Miami's career triples record with the 15th of his career. His six triples this season share for the MAC lead, rank 23rd nationally and tie for fourth on Miami's single-season top-10 list. Eaton had six three-baggers in 2009 as well, and three as a freshman. Eaton is also fourth on Miami's career runs scored list with 164, tied for sixth on the stolen bases chart with 65, ninth all-time in doubles with 43 and 10th in total bases (346). See page 19 for complete career lists.
Klepto-RedHawks: Miami has been using its speed to its advantage so far in 2010, going 71-for-89 on stolen base attempts, led by junior outfielder Adam Eaton's MAC-best 29-for-33 showing (25th nationally). His 29 steals rank fourth in Miami single-season history (complete list on page 18), after recording 28 steals in 2009. Junior second baseman Jon Edgington has swiped 15 bags in as many tries and sophomore outfielder Ryan Brenner has eight stolen bases while eight other 'Hawks have at least stolen one. The RedHawks started the year a perfect 19-for-19 until being caught March 13 vs. Indiana. Miami is tied for second in the MAC in stolen bases, four behind Northern Illinois, while its 79.8 percent success rate is third in the league just behind Eastern Michigan (82.1) and Buffalo (81.6).
MAC Daddy: Junior outfielder Adam Eaton has been the leader of Miami's offense so far in 2010 and ranked in the top 10 in the MAC in seven categories entering the week. Eaton tied for the league lead in triples with six and was first in stolen bases with 29 while ranking fifth in slugging (.687). He also ranked in the MAC's top 10 in runs scored (3rd/59), total bases (4th/138), on-base percentage (8th/.456) and home runs (9th/12). Pitching-wise, sophomore Jordan Jankowski was second in the league in saves with nine while senior Kyle Donawerth was tied for second in appearances with 27 and sophomore hurler Matt Rosinski and Jankowski were tied for sixth with 22. Junior starting pitcher Tyler Melling ranked ninth in the league in innings pitched with 76.2, as well.
Racking Up the Runs: The RedHawks have had a knack for scoring runs in bunches so far in 2010, plating seven or more runs in a single inning eight times this year. Most recently, Miami totaled 10 runs in the fourth inning April 25 against Akron, as the RedHawks cruised to a 16-5 win. Thirteen RedHawks came to the plate in the inning, which marked the second time this season Miami put up double-digit runs in a frame. The 'Hawks scored eight runs in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 12-11 walk-off win over Xavier April 13 in the Joe Nuxhall Classic. Prior to that, the RedHawks totaled 15 runs in a doubleheader at Jacksonville State March 20, scoring in just two of the innings (eight in the eighth inning of game one and seven in the sixth inning of game two).
After being shutout in its season opener Feb. 19, Miami exploded for 23 runs in a 23-5 victory over Furman on Feb. 20. The 23 runs marked the most by a Miami squad since a 35-8 win over Quinnipiac on June 4, 2005 in the NCAA Tournament. Ten different RedHawks crossed home at least once, including six who did it more than once. Junior outfielder Adam Eaton led the way with six runs while junior second baseman Jon Edgington scored four times. In the seventh inning, the 'Hawks tallied 12 runs alone as 16 RedHawks came to the plate, giving Miami its most runs in a single frame since registering 12 in the ninth inning in the win over Quinnipiac.
The 'Hawks lit up the scoreboard again March 13, pounding out 19 runs, including a season-best five homers, in a 19-7 win over Indiana. Back-to-back seven-run innings (4th and 5th) helped spur the outburst. The 19 runs are the second-most by a Miami team since putting up 35 against Quinnipiac, as the RedHawks did not score more than 18 runs from 2006-09.
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--MURedHawks.com--
