Baseball Heads to 16th-ranked Mississippi
3/1/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 1, 2012
Ole Miss Game Notes
Miami begins its annual spring break trip this weekend with a three-game set at No. 16/23 Ole Miss. The RedHawks and Rebels are slated for single games Friday (6:30 p.m. CT), Saturday (12:30 p.m. CT) and Sunday (1:30 p.m.).
Miami (3-3) has played its first six games on two separate trips to Greenville, S.C. The RedHawks took two of three from Furman on opening weekend, but then won just once at the First Pitch Invitational, hosted by the Class A Greenville Drive. Miami topped Michigan State on Sunday, 1-0, behind a three-hit, complete-game effort by senior Shawn Marquardt.
As a team, Miami is batting .272 with two home runs and 29 RBIs in six games. The RedHawks have taken 19 walks and have been hit five times for an on-base percentage of .343. On the mound, RedHawk pitchers hold a 6.53 ERA, but struck out 39 batters, while walking only 19. Opponents are hitting .305 against Miami.
Individually, Kevin Bower leads the team in hitting with a .625 average, adding one home run and nine RBIs, while freshman Matt Honchel stands at .421. Fellow newcomers Alex Johnson (Cleveland State transfer) and Scott Slappey (freshman) are next at .375 and .304, respectively.
Miami will send the same trio of pitchers to the mound, going back to the opening day rotation. Junior Mac Thoreson (0-2, 15.26) draws the Firday assignment, while junior Brooks Fiala (1-1, 9.00) will open on Saturday. Last week, he drew Michigan State on Friday instead of the Saturday rematch vs. Furman. Marquardt (1-0, 3.09) will throw the series finale on Sunday.
After the series, Miami will fly to Florida to compete in the SnowbirdClassic on Port Charlotte. The RedHawks face Villanova, Sacred Heart, Seton Hall and Pittsburgh with a visit to Miami (Fla.) tucked into the slate.
