Miami Opens 2012 Home Schedule with Series against Canisius
3/13/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 12, 2012
Miami's 2012 home schedule opens this week when the RedHawks welcome Canisius to McKie Field. The two-game set -- starting at 4 p.m. both Tuesday and Wednesday -- kicks off a five-game homestand after 14 straight on the road to open the season.
Miami has won three straight to improve to 7-7, including a 4-4 record over spring break that included a win at then-No. 16 Ole Miss. The RedHawks also had two near-upsets falling 2-1 to the Rebels last Sunday and 4-3 at No. 13 Miami (Fla.) on Wednesday. The current win streak came against Sacred Heart (8-2), Seton Hall (7-5) and Pittsburgh (6-1).
Canisius (7-8) has started its annual spring break trip 0-3 after being swept at No. 23 Kentucky over the weekend.
The RedHawks' offense is led by a couple of unlikely players so far. Sophomore John Crummy, who played in only five games last year, is hitting .448 with 10 runs batted in, the second-most on the team. Freshman Matt Honchel ranks second on the club with a .428 average with seven RBIs. Senior transfer Alex Johnson is third at .368, while Ryan Brenner is hitting .365 with seven stolen bases.
The RedHawks are batting .294 with two home runs and seven stolen bases through 14 games. The RedHawks have a .355 on-base percentage, while slugging .349.
On the mound, RedHawk pitchers hold a 5.67 ERA, but have struck out 96 batters, while walking only 37.
Another surprise, sophomore Charles Zubrod, has earned the privilege of a start on opening day in Oxford. He is 0-0 with a 1.32 ERA. In his first career start at Miami on Wednesday, he limited the Hurricanes in 5.1 innings pitched. Previously, he saw action in three games out of the bullpen. Sophmore Alex Brown (0-0, 6.75 ERA) will open on Wednesday. He has just one previous appearance this season, allowing one run and two hits in 1.1 innings of work.
Series History
Miami and Canisius have faced each other only once in their history -- 22 years ago on the Golden Griffs' spring trip.
The RedHawks posted a 12-0 shutout that afternoon.
The specifics of that series:
Date Site Result Score3/30/90 Oxford, Ohio W 12-0
Home Opener
The Canisius series opens the 2012 home schedule for Miami. A year ago, the RedHawks posted a 15-4 mark in the friendly confines of McKie Field.
This year's slate features 24 games on 23 dates, potentially the most since the 2005 season, when Miami hosted -- and played five games in -- the MAC Tournament.
Miami stands 5-1 in home openers during Dan Simonds' tenure, including wins in each of the last four years.
Early Awards
A Miami player captured a Mid-American Conference weekly award in each of the first two weeks this season. Senior Shawn Marquardt became the second winner when he was named East Division Pitcher of the Week. He threw a complete-game, three-hitter against Michigan State on Feb. 26, strking out a career-best seven.
Junior Kevin Bower was the MAC East Player of the Week for Feb. 17-19 after batting .636 with one home run and six runs batted in.
Welcome Aboard
Miami's offensive statistics are highlighted by several newcomers. After sophomore John Crummy, freshman Matt Honchel leads the team in hitting with a .429 average, while adding seven runs batted in. Senior transfer Alex Johnson stands third on the team with 14 hits (.368) and seven RBIs.
Four pitchers have made their Miami debuts this season. Redshirt freshman Nathan Williams has pitched 7.0 scoreless innings, while Brian Thene, Clay Cinnamon and Ryan Powers have also taken the hill.
Top 25 Win
Miami posted a 9-8 win over 16th-ranked Ole Miss on March 2, their first Top 25 win in five years.
The RedHawks upset No. 13 Texas, 6-2, on No. 13 Texas on March 9, 2007.
The feat was almost duplicated five days later, but Miami (Fla.) scored once in the eighth and twice in the ninth to rally for a 4-3 decision over their namesakes from Ohio.
From the Pen to the Lineup
Sophomore Charles Zubrod is slated to pitch the 2012 home opener on Tuesday. He made his first career start at Miami (Fla.) last Wednesday, allowing just five hits and an unearned run in 5.1 innings.
A year ago, Zubrod made just one appearance, but has now held four opponents to 11 hits and four runs (two earned) in 13.2 combined innings. Zubrod has walked two and struck out six, holding the three opponents to a .229 average.
Taking a Base
Miami is off to a solid start on the bases this year, making 20 steals on 29 attempts. Five different RedHawks have taken a base, led by Ryan Brenner with seven (in eight attempts).
As a team, Miami ranks 76th in the country this year with 1.43 stolen bases per game, while Brenner is 65th at 0.5 per game.
A year ago, the RedHawks averaged 1.57 steals per game (96 in 60) with Brenner ranking second in the country (39 of 48).
Turning Two
Miami ranks fourth in the country this week in double plays, turning 19 in 14 games. In fact, the RedHawks have had at least one twin-killing in all 14 games this year.
The season-high is four in the 9-8 win at Ole Miss on March 2.
Coming Up Rosie
Senior Matt Rosinski has been solid on the mound in his two appearances this season.
He threw the final four innings in a 12-11 win on Feb. 18, earning his third career save and retired all three batters he faced in the eighth in the Ole Miss. finale. He did take the loss at Miami (Fla.), but only one of the three runs allowed was earned.
In total, the University Heights, Ohio, native has allowed six runs, one earned, and seven hits in 7.2 innings. Opponents are hitting .226 against the senior with eight Ks.
Rosinski ranks second at Miami in career appearances (84) after tying the single-season school record as a sophomore.
Lucky Seven
Miami posted its seventh win of the season on March 10, the earliest it has reached that mark in school history. Keep in mind though that in some years, the NCAA opening date was the first weekend in March.
Some recent fast starts include March 13 (2009 and 2004), March 16 (2005) and March 17 (2010 and 2007).
Hit Parade
Senior Ryan Brenner returns home from Florida a lengthy hitting streak. In fact, he has hit safely in all every game this season, 14 straight. That leads to a .365 batting average, but also a .412 on-base percentage (five walks).
Prior to this season, Brenner's longest hit streak was just six games during the 2011 campaign.
Freshman Matt Honchel had a nine-game streak snapped in Florida, while Nate Bowles' six-game run is next on the active list.
Preseason Picks
For the second straight season, Miami was tabbed second in the Mid-American Conference East Division in the annual preseason coaches' poll. The RedHawks received 48 points behind defending regular-season and tournament champion Kent State. Central Michigan was the favorite to win the West Division.
The league coaches also chose a potential tournament champion with the RedHawks receiving one vote.
2012 MAC Baseball Preseason Poll
MAC East Division
1. Kent State - 59 points
2. Miami - 48 points
3. Bowling Green - 36 points
4. Ohio - 34 points
5. Akron - 17 points
6. Buffalo - 16 points
MAC West Division
1. Central Michigan - 54 points
2. Toledo - 45 points
3. Eastern Michigan - 43 points
4. Northern Illinois - 36 points
5. Western Michigan - 21 points
6. Ball State - 11 points
MAC Tournament Champions
Kent State (7), Central Michigan (1), Toledo (1), Eastern Michigan (1), Miami (1)
*Akron coaching staff chose not to vote in the preseason poll due to being new to the league this season
