MU Travels to Akron for MAC East Matchup
4/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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Miami RedHawks (6-27, 4-8 MAC)
Games 34-36 | April 17-19
Friday 3 p.m.
Saturday 3 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m.
Lee R. Jackson Field
ON TAP: The RedHawks travel to Akron this weekend for an important MAC East matchup. Miami enters the weekend four games back of the Zips in the MAC East standings.
ABOUT AKRON (17-17, 8-4 MAC): The Zips enter the weekend after coming off a sweep of Northern Illinois. Akron also played a pair of midweek games earlier this week. They beat Marshall, 7-0 on Tuesday but fell to Dayton, 2-1 on Wednesday. They are led by senior Joey Havrilak, who boasts a .354 batting average to go along with 20 runs batted in. Last season, the Zips finished 28-29 (12-15 MAC), finishing fifth in MAC East. Their season ended in the MAC Tournament championship game as they fell to Kent State, 3-0.
SERIES HISTORY: The RedHawks lead the all-time series, 51-26. The two teams last met a season ago in 2014. The RedHawks took two of three from the Zips.
LAST WEEKEND: The RedHawks suffered a series loss to Buffalo. The Bulls took the first and final game of the series, while Miami earned a 6-3 victory in the Saturday matchup.
Earlier this week, the RedHawks dropped games to Wright State and Xavier in the Joe Nuxhall Classic.
HONCHEL RISING: Honchel has moved up the career batting average list and currently sits at sixth all-time with a .355 average. Recently, he moved into sole possession of third all-time in Miami history with 271 career hits. This season, Honchel has been the offensive backbone of the team, boasting a .374 batting average with ten doubles, 17 runs, 18 runs batted in and two home runs. In addition, he leads the team lead with 13 multi-hit games and has reached base safely in 30 of 33 games this season. He has earned at least one hit in 26 of 33 games.
UTILITY MAN: Senior Ryan Elble has started 28 games this season. He began the year as the team’s left fielder. However, he has become the team’s true utility man as he is the only player two play three or more positions during the season. He has made 13 starts in left field, eight at first base and, most recently, five at shortstop. In addition, he has become a welcomed addition to the RedHawk offense. Following the March 15th game at ETSU, Elble had a .188 batting average. He has improved greatly, currently sitting at a .284 average. He also has seven extra base hits on the season, six of which came after March 15th at ETSU.
WORK HORSES: Senior Ryan Powers has been Miami’s Friday starter the whole season. He is the anchor of the RedHawk starting rotation. He has gone six or more innings in five of his last six starts. In addition, he has had 100-plus pitches in each of those outings. He ranks second on the team with an opponent batting average of .234. Sophomore Jacob Banks has done equally as good of a job as Miami’s Saturday starter so far this season. In nine starts this season, he has gone six or more innings in six of those games. Like Powers, he has had six outings of 100-plus pitches.
YACEK GETTING IT DONE: While he did appear sporadically at the beginning of the season, sophomore Adam Yacek has become a regular in the Miami lineup of late. His .318 batting average ranks is tied for third-best on the team, while his .534 slugging percentage is second-highest on the team. His four home runs leads the team.
RUSSO HEATING UP: Gary Russo was arguably Miami’s best hitter and offensive weapon last year. However, the junior had a rather cold start to the season, recording just six hits in his first 15 games. Since then, over his last ten games, he is hitting .378 with 12 RBIs, four doubles and one home run.
MAC PRESEASON PICKS (Coaches Poll)
EAST DIVISION
1. Kent State - 68 (8 first place)
2. Miami - 59 (3 first place)
3. Akron - 41
4. Bowling Green - 38 (1 first place)
5. Buffalo - 27
6. Ohio - 19
WEST DIVISION
1. Ball State - 67 (8 first place)
2. Central Michigan - 55 (2 first place)
3. Western Michigan - 46 (1 first place)
4. Toledo - 43 (1 first place)
5. Eastern Michigan - 23
6. Northern Illinois - 18
Tournament Champion Votes:
Kent State (3), Miami (2), Central Michigan (2), Ball State (2), Bowling Green (1), Toledo (1) and Western Michigan (1)
