Miami Ohio University Athletics
MU Prepares for Crucial Series Against Ohio
5/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Follow: @MiamiOHBaseball | @MiamiRedHawks
Miami RedHawks (12-37, 10-14 MAC)
Games 50-52 | May 14-16
Oxford, Ohio | McKie Field at Hayden Park
ON TAP: The RedHawks enter the weekend on the outside looking in as far as qualifying for the MAC Tournament. The top eight teams, regardless of division, make the cut. Miami must win at least two out of three against Ohio this upcoming weekend to even be considered and a three-game sweep does not guarantee the Red & White a spot. They will need help to qualify. Miami currently sit in sole possession of ninth place. If they finish tied for a spot, whoever owns the better head-to-head record owns the tiebreaker. If the teams did not play each other, then the tiebreaker is who has the best record/winning percentage against ranked teams. For example, if Miami finishes tied with Ball State for the last spot, whoever has the best W-L record/winning percentage versus the top team in the MAC, they have the advantage. So, if CMU finished first overall in the MAC, then it would be Miami’s record vs. CMU (0-3) compared to Ball State’s record vs. CMU (1-2). Ball State would win the tiebreaker. MAC Tournament scenarios will be updated after each game and will be included in the game recap and will also be posted to Twitter (@MiamiOHBaseball). Miami owns head-to-head over EMU, Akron and WMU.
AROUND THE HORN
• Senior Matt Honchel has reached base in 45 of 47 games played. He also leads the team with 37 RBI.
• In last Friday’s series-opening game against Toledo, the RedHawks plated 31 runs. It marks the most runs scored by a RedHawk team since they scored 35 in the 2005 NCAA Tournament against Quinnipiac.
• Honchel and fellow senior Max Andresen both collected multi-home run weekends against the Rockets of Toledo
• Sophomore Adam Yacek and seniors Ryan Elble and Max Andresen lead the team with five home runs each.
• Over the last two MAC series, the RedHawks are hitting .389 as a team and are averaging 13.8 runs per game over the six-game span.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
ABOUT OHIO (30-18, 15-9 MAC): The Bobcats enter the weekend in a comfortable spot. having secured a place in the upcoming MAC Tournament. This past weekend, Ohio earned a series sweep over Eastern Michigan. Entering the series, Ohio in the midst of the biggest turndarounds in the country. They finished the 2014 season 11-40 (7-20 MAC), giving them 19 more wins than they had a year ago. The +19 difference is the best in the nation. Their 2014 season ended after suffering a three-game sweep at the hands of the RedHawks. Mitch Longo, who is hitting .365 on the year with 41 RBI and six home runs, leads the Bobcats.
SERIES HISTORY: The RedHawks trail the all-time series, 105-124. As mentioned, the two teams last met at the end of the regular season in 2014, a three-game sweep for Miami.
LAST WEEKEND: The RedHawks began the week by hosting Ohio on Tuesday, a 20-7 defeat. The Red & White took game one of their series against Toledo by a score of 31-5. Despite outscoring the Rockets by 17 on the weekend, Toledo took the last two games of the series to clinch a MAC Tournament birth.
GAME NOTES
HONCHEL RISING
• With ten hits over the course of four games last week, Matt Honchel moved into sole possesion second all-time in career hits at Miami, passing Jordan Petraitis (‘06-’09).
• His 292 career hits is 24 shy of tying the all-time record. His .379 batting average leads the MAC.
• Last weekend at Toledo, hit .467 with five runs, ten RBI and two home runs.
YACEK GETTING IT DONE
• Did not appear in Miami lineup often in the early part of the season, but has put together a solid season for the RedHawks.
• Ranks second on the team in batting average (.331), slugging percentage (.550) and doubles (10).
• Tied with Ryan Elble and Max Andresen with a team-best five home runs.
REDHAWKS SOARING
• Entering the weekend, over their last five MAC contests, the Red & White are averaging 13.8 runs per game.
• After Friday’s 31-5 throttling of Toledo, Miami had been hitting .455 as a team during their three-game MAC win streak.
• Over the RedHawks’ last two MAC series, they are hitting .389 as a team and have collected ten home runs
MAXING OUT
• Senior Max Andresen struggled out of the gate this season, but has been great for the RedHawks of late.
• In three games at Toledo this past weekend, the senior hit .444, collecing four runs, six RBI and four home runs.
GRAHAM’S GAME
• Freshman right-handed pitcher Gus Graham collected his first career collegiate win this past weekend at Toledo.
• Tossed a career-high seven innings, allowing three runs and just four hits.
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)
