MU Baseball faces five games

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OXFORD — After winning three of five this past week, Miami (12-14, 3-3 MAC) had five games on its slate this week. The RedHawks began things on Tuesday at Northern Kentucky before returning home to host NKU and completing the home-and-home series on Wednesday. The Red & White will remain for the weekend as they host Bowling Green. The series will serve as alumni weekend for Miami baseball. In addition, Friday will be the Cancer Awareness game while Saturday’s contest will feature a celebration of the 45th anniversary of Buddy Schultz’s 26 strikeout performance against Wright State.

Around the horn

• Miami remains one of the top power hitting teams in the country. The RedHawks enter the week ranked fifth nationally in home runs per game, launching 1.31 per outing.

• With back-to-back shutouts in the first two games at Northern Illinois, it marks the first time Miami has done that since April 26, 2003 when they swept a doubleheader against NIU in a pair of 2-0 and 5-0 decisions.

• Redshirt sophomore infielder Ross Haffey has reached base safely in all 26 games for Miami this season.

• Game one of Sunday’s doubleheader saw pitcher Cole Gnetz toss a three-hit, complete game shutout. The freshman righty fanned eight NIU hitters while walking just one.

• 15 of Miami’s 17 newcomers have made their debuts in the Red & White through the team’s first 22 games.

Scouting report

Northern Kentucky: The Norse enter the week having dropped two of three in Horizon League action at Wright State this past weekend. NKU has had a tough go of it thus far is conference action, sitting at 1-8 through their first nine. The Norse have collected just one series win all season, which came back at the end of February when they took two of three from East Tennessee State. In terms of common opponents, NKU has also seen Northwestern, who they defeated, 7-1. The Norse lineup boasts three hitters with a .300 or better average. Leading the pack is senior catcher Logan Spurlin, who is hitting .360 with 12 runs, five doubles, six home runs and 25 runs batted in.

Last meeting: The RedHawks and Norse last met on March 18, 2014, a 7-6 Miami win. The Red & White lead the all-time series, 15-1.

Bowling Green: The Falcons come into the week sporting a series win over Toledo this past weekend. BGSU dropped the opening game of the serIes before sweeping a Sunday doubleheader over the Rockets. The wins were much needed after suffering a sweep at the hands of Eastern Michigan in the opening week of conference play, March 25-27. Over their last 15, the Falcons are just 4-11. In terms of batting average, BG is lead by sophomore infielder Derek Drewes, who is hitting .375 in 16 games played.

Last meeting: The RedHawks and Falcons last met in conference action last season in Bowling Green. Miami and Bowling Green split a doubleheader to open the series before the Falcons won an 18-12 slugfest in the rubber match. The `Hawks lead the all-time series, 93-65.

R-H Staff

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