Baseball Starts Final Homestand Friday
5/3/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 3, 2012
OXFORD, Ohio -- Miami wraps up its Mid-American Conference home schedule this weekend when it hosts Akron in a three-game set. The starting times are 6 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday (adjusted for graduation) and 1 p.m. Sunday.
The RedHawks (22-23, 7-11) have struggled to find a groove in the last month, posting an 8-11 record in April. Last weekend, Miami salvaged the final game of the Buffalo series after dropping the first two.
Akron (17-27, 10-8) was also off during the week after losing two of three to Central Michigan. The Zips won Friday's opener before being swept in both games of a Sunday doubleheader.
After ending a 1-for-16 slump last week, freshman Matt Honchel continued his outstanding initial campaign with four singles during the Buffalo series. He is hitting a team-best .383 with 17 runs batted in, while also leading the team with 23 multiple-high games this season. Honchel has posted three hitting streaks of eight games or more.
Junior Kevin Bower is second on the team with a .341 average and has driven in a club-best 42 runs, while John Crummy is next at .329. Bryce Redeker has a team-best four homers and 34 RBIs.
As a team, Miami is hitting .295 with five players holding an average above .300.
For the first time this season, Miami is altering its weekend rotation as sophomore Charles Zubrod (2-3, 3.04) takes over the Sunday spot. Senior Shawn Marquardt (5-4, 4.01), who started as the RedHawks' Sunday opener before moving to Saturday midseason, will now throw on Friday followed by junior Mac Thoreson (5-3, 6.03).
Junior Brooks Fiala, who has started 11 games, will work from the bullpen this weekend. He stands 2-6 with a 6.93 ERA and has lost four straight decisions.
Saturday has been designated Walter "Smokey" Alston Day, while Sunday is Senior Day.
