May 9, 2002
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REDHAWKS BATTLE THE AKRON ZIPS ON THE ROAD THIS WEEKEND IN SECOND TO LAST WEEK OF CONFERENCE ACTION: After a tough setback at Big Ten power Ohio State this week, the Miami baseball team looks to solidify its position in the Mid-American Conference postseason script with a four-game set at Akron this weekend. The Zips are coming off a 14-5 defeat of Pittsburgh this week, but lost three out of four in their last conference action at Buffalo. The RedHawks swept the Bulls earlier this season, and hope that the trend continues in their favor.
The RedHawks, while still in the hunt for a MAC Tournament bid, are entering a crucial part of their schedule with this series at Akron and a series at home against Kent State to conclude the regular season. Next week's contest on May 15 at Wright State is the RedHawks final non-conference game of the season. Head Coach Tracy Smith is 14-6 all-time against Akron, and has won the last five games against the Zips including a four-game sweep in 2001.
SCOUTING THE ZIPS: The Zips are 17-24 overall this season and 7-12 in the MAC. After losing three out of four at Buffalo and getting swept by Kent State the Zips are facing elimination from the MAC Tournament. If Akron doesn't atleast split this weekends' set with the RedHawks its postseason dreams are all but shot.
Akron is struggling this season from the plate, batting only .275 as a team with 27 home runs. Junior Craig Welch paces the Zips with a .327 batting average (52-159), as well as leading the team in two-baggers with 12. Accounting for nine of Akron's 27 dingers is junior Dan Swallie. Swallie also heads the team with 36 runs scored and 35 RBI. Junior Ryan Brickwood has been scorching the basepaths this season, successful on 14-of-18 thefts.
Multi-purpose pitcher, sophomore Aaron Gangi, has been used this season as both a starter, a middle reliever, and as a closer. Gangi boasts a 3-2 record, one complete-game shut out and one save. His 5.33 earned run average is the lowest on Akron's staff, and is second on the team with 49.0 innings pitched.
MIAMI IN THE MAC: Miami junior Mike Galloway (St. Thomas, Ontario/Central Michigan) moved up into the fourth slot in the conference in batting average (.405) after going 5-for-12 against Ohio. He still holds the lead in the conference with 55 runs scored, but dropped to second with 70 hits. Galloway is in the top ten in triples (t-5th), RBIs (3rd), total bases (5th), on-base percentage (4th) and slugging percentage (10th).
Cracking the MAC top ten this week is Carlin whose 14 home runs, which lead Miami, are good enough to tie for fourth in the conference. Carlin also is eighth in the conference in slugging percentage (.704) and ninth in total bases (107). Carlin also is tied for eighth in the MAC with three others at 43 RBI.
Also figuring into the mix is sophomore Ryan Edginton (Chester Springs, Pa./Arizona State) and junior Zach Schmidt (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas) who are tied for third in the conference, with Galloway, with three triples.
13 AND COUNTING: Junior David Cook (Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales) is in the midst of something that no other RedHawks has done this season, and that is a 13-game hitting streak. Over the last 13 games Cook has batted .421 (24-57), knocked in 14 runs and scored 14 times. He extended his streak to 13 with a lead-off single in the first inning against Ohio State
Not only does Cook have Miami's longest hitting streak of the season, but he also is on pace to set the fifth most at-bats in a season. Cook has 195 at-bats in 47 games and with nine regular season games is on pace for 233 at-bats.
NUMERO UNO CARLIN: No. 1 on the Miami roster, Carlin has played to the level of his jersey number in the last 13 games. His .512 batting average (21-41) is nearly 100 points higher than the next RedHawk, and he leads the squad with eight round-trippers and 18 RBI. He also paces the Red and White during this stretch with a .608 on-base percentage and a 1.244 slugging percentage.
This recent display of power by the RedHawk first basemen has moved him into striking distance of the single-season home run record. Carlin's 14 dingers gives him sole possession of the fifth highest single-season total. The mark to beat is 17 set by Jason Knoedler in 2001.
NO MORE LONG BALL FOR YOU: Despite its team 5.96 ERA, which is higher than last year's mark of 5.27, the Miami pitching staff has succeeded in cutting down on the number of gopher balls it allows. Last season RedHawk hurlers allowed 83 home runs, and this year they have cut that number down to 50 dingers in 47 contests.
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