RedHawks Prepare For Busy Week Ahead
4/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Follow: @MiamiOHBaseball | @MiamiRedHawks
Miami RedHawks (5-23, 3-6 MAC)
Games 29-34 | April 7-12
Tuesday at Marshall
Wednesday vs. Wright State
Friday-Sunday vs. Buffalo
ON TAP: The RedHawks travel to Marshall for a rematch on Tuesday. Then, they will come home to host the Raiders of Wright State, another rematch. Both team’s got the best of Miami earlier this season. The Red & White will then remain home for a three-game weekend series with Buffalo.
ABOUT MARSHALL (9-21, 2-9 C-USA): The Thundering Herd are coming off a weekend in which they were swept by No. 22 Florida Atlantic. That conference series was the only game between the last time these two teams met. Last Wednesday, Marshall made the trip to Oxford, defeating the RedHawks, 16-3. The Herd are led by Aaron Bossi (.412), DJ Gee (.341), Sergio Leon (.339) and TJ Diffenderfer (.301).
SERIES HISTORY: The RedHawks are 70-28 all-time against the Thundering Herd, including last week’s loss.
ABOUT WRIGHT STATE (20-9, 8-3 Horizon): Wright State enters the matchup following a series loss to UIC. The Raiders won the series finale, which was game two of a doubleheader. Wright State is 4-3 since meeting the RedHawks on March 24th. In that time, they played Cincinnati, a common opponent. They defeated the Bearcats, 5-3.
SERIES HISTORY: The RedHawks are 45-38 all-time against the Raiders, including the team’s 7-3 loss to Wright State in March.
ABOUT BUFFALO (7-17, 2-7 MAC): The Bulls have struggled out of the gate so far this season. They are coming off a series loss to Ohio, losing all three games against the Bobcats. The bulls finished 26-26 (9-9 MAC) last season, finishing fourth in MAC East. In last year’s MAC Tournament, the Bulls made it to the semifinals before falling to Akron, 5-4.
SERIES HISTORY: The RedHawks are 34-12 all-time against the Bulls. The two teams last met in the 2014 MAC Tournament. The Bulls got the best of the Red & White in each of their two matchups. In the first round of the tournament, Buffalo downed the RedHawks, 6-5. The two teams met again in the next round, a 4-0 Buffalo victory.
LAST WEEKEND: The RedHawks went 1-4 overall last week, dropping games to Louisville, Marshall and two to Bowling Green. Miami’s win came in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader against BGSU.
HONCHEL RISING: Honchel has moved up the career batting average list and currently sits at sixth all-time with a .355 average. This past weekend, he moved into sole possession of third all-time in Miami history with 266 career hits. He entered last weekend tied with John Slone (2002-05) with 261 career hits. This season, Honchel is off to a hot start, boasting a .380 batting average with eight doubles, 15 runs scored, 17 runs batted in and two home runs. In addition, he leads the team lead with 12 multi-hit games and has reached base safely in 25 of 28 games this season. He has gotten at least one hit in 22 of 28 games.
UTILITY MAN: Senior Ryan Elble has started 23 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 12 starts in left field, eight at first base and, most recently, three 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, sitting at a .309 average now. He also has six extra base hits on the season, five 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 each of his last five 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 just .213. Sophomore Jacob Banks has done equally as good of a job as Miami’s Saturday starter so far this season. In eight starts this season, he has gone six or more innings in six of those games. Like Powers, he has had five 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 .315 batting average ranks him third on the team, while his .560 slugging percentage is the highest on the team. 11 of his 18 starts have come at third base and he has committed just one error on the season.
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 seven games, he is hitting .423 with seven RBIs, two 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)
