MIAMI MONDAY

May 3, 2010

While all Miami students were finishing up classes last week and preparing for final exams, RedHawk student-athletes were busy both hitting the books and competing athletically, as two Miami squads challenged for Mid-American Conference Championships with one winning it all, while four other teams continued spring action as their league championships approach.

Four RedHawks were honored at the MAC Tennis Banquet last Thursday, while the team received its regular-season championship trophy.

Congratulations to the women's tennis team (18-6, 8-0 MAC), who won their second straight MAC Tournament title Sunday after clinching the 2010 regular season title two weeks ago with a second consecutive undefeated league campaign! Top-seeded Miami cruised past eighth-seeded Ball State Friday in the quarterfinals 4-0 (RECAP) and narrowly escaped No. 5-seed Buffalo Saturday in the semifinals, but earned a 4-1 win as sophomore Stephanie Danesis saved the day with a three-set victory at No. 2 singles for the deciding point. (RECAP) The RedHawks then posted straight-set victories in the top three flights Sunday to capture its second straight MAC Tennis Championship, 4-1, over No. 3-seed and host Western Michigan. (RECAP) With the league title, Miami earns its second straight NCAA Tournament berth as well, and will find out its first-round opponent Tuesday between 5 and 6 p.m. on ESPNews. Junior Anastasia Dracheva was named MAC Tournament MVP while she was joined on the All-Tournament team by Danesis.

Congratulations are also due to interim tennis head coach Ricardo Rosas, who was named MAC Coach of the Year on Thursday at the league's tennis banquet. Dracheva was also named First-Team All-MAC at the banquet, while Danesis, along with junior Megan Martzolf, earned Second-Team All-MAC plaudits. (RELEASE)

Nathan Sutherland tied for sixth at the MAC Championship and earned First-Team All-MAC honors.

The men's golf team contended for a MAC title last weekend as well, finishing fourth overall at the three-day event held at Longaberger Golf Club in Nashport, Ohio to conclude its season. The RedHawks had their best round of the event Sunday, shooting an eight-over-par 296 to finish at 50-over par for the tournament. (RECAP) The fourth-place finish was Miami's best since 2006 while junior Nathan Sutherland was named First-Team All-MAC after tying for sixth overall individually at seven over par in four rounds.

Softball (25-22, 10-8 MAC) went 2-2 over the weekend, but started off strong, sweeping a doubleheader at Western Michigan on Friday as two great pitching performances by starters Meredith Linch and Jessica Simpson led Miami to 3-1 and 4-0 victories. (RECAP) The RedHawks then dropped a tough, 10-inning decision at Northern Illinois on Saturday, 3-2, (RECAP) and fell again to the Huskies on Sunday, 4-2, despite grabbing a 2-0 lead after two innings. (RECAP) Miami wraps up its regular season this week, hosting Wright State for a doubleheader Tuesday beginning at 4 p.m., before rounding out conference play by welcoming rival Ohio for a doubleheader Friday starting at 1 p.m. and Akron for a 6 p.m. contest Saturday and a 1 p.m. game Sunday. The games against Wright State and Ohio can be heard live over the internet via MSNi at this link. The "Voice of the RedHawks" Steve Baker will have the call.

Baseball (21-22, 8-10 MAC) dropped the first two games of a three-game series at Bowling Green over the weekend but rebounded for a win on Sunday. Junior Kyle Weldon was one of three RedHawks to homer Sunday, while his two-run blast broke a 3-3 tie and Miami received strong pitching from freshman Mac Thoreson and sophomore Jordan Jankowski to earn the 8-6 victory. (RECAP) On Friday, the Falcons hit five home runs and held off a late RedHawk rally to hand Miami a 14-8 defeat. (RECAP) Saturday, the baseball team fell behind 6-0 and closed to within one, but was unable to complete the comeback and dropped a tough, 7-6 decision, despite a 3-for-3 showing at the plate from junior Adam Eaton, who had two doubles, two stolen bases and three runs scored. (RECAP) Miami returns to the diamond this weekend when it hosts MAC East leader Kent State for a three-game series. Friday's and Saturday's games start at 6 p.m. while Sunday's finale begins at 1 p.m., all at McKie Field at Hayden Park.

Former RedHawk John Ely made his MLB debut with the Dodgers last Wednesday.

Congratulations to Jordan Jankowski, who garnered MAC East Pitcher of the Week honors last Monday! (RELEASE) Also congrats to former RedHawk hurler John Ely (2005-07), who made his Major League debut last Wednesday with the Los Angeles Dodgers when he started on the mound against the New York Mets. (RELEASE) He is scheduled to make his second career start on Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers, when he will make his home debut.

The men's track and field team competed at the Jesse Owens Track Classic, hosted by Ohio State in Columbus on Friday and Saturday, as several RedHawks posted season- and personal-best times while facing some of its toughest competition of the season. Junior Michael McCarty led the way, taking third in the long jump with a leap that ties him for fifth all-time at Miami, while fellow junior Josh Rees placed fifth in the event, also with a personal-best jump. (RECAP)

The women's track and field team also participated at the Jesse Owens Classic, as the RedHawks posted a pair of top-10 finishes despite facing one of its toughest and largest fields of the season. Senior Nicki Mitchell placed seventh in the long jump while Miami's 4x400m relay team finished sixth in the 20-team race. (RECAP)

Both the men's and women's track and field teams have one final tune-up before the MAC Championships in Buffalo, N.Y. May 13-15, as Miami will compete at the Billy Hayes Invitational, hosted by Indiana on Friday.

Congratulations to redshirt sophomore Rachel Patterson, who received MAC Female Track Athlete of the Week honors for the third time this season last Thursday. (RELEASE)

Miami ice hockey senior Jarod Palmer signed a free agent contract with the Minneosta Wild of the NHL last Monday and will join the club for training camp in September. (RELEASE)

Good luck to all Miami student-athletes on their final examinations this week!

GO REDHAWKS!!!

Miami Ohio University Athletics

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