• Roster | 
• Schedule | 
• News | 
• Archives | 
• Photos 

May 27, 2002

2002 Season Recap in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

MIAMI BASEBALL FINISHES 2002 SEASON WITH 31-28 RECORD AND SIXTH STRAIGHT TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE: Despite not reaching the Mid-American Conference tournament championship game for the first in three years the Miami baseball team still had a very respectable 2002 campaign. The RedHawks split their final regular-season series with Kent State to secure a spot in the conference tourney, and once there knocked off Eastern Michigan before being knocked out themselves by Ball State.

In a typical baseball season filled with win and hitting streaks the Red and White opened the 2002 season with a 9-3 record, which included a six-game winning streak from March 5-March 12. An 11-5 victory at Cincinnati on March 7 marked the first time since 1998 that the RedHawks defeated UC at Johnny Bench Field. March 24 was a memorable date for Miami as it played its first game in its new ballpark, McKie Field at Hayden Park, against Purdue. After dropping an 8-0 decision to the Boilermakers, Miami went on to register a 14-8 record in its friendly confines compared to an 11-16 tally on the road. The RedHawks' 16-12 MAC record was good enough to earn them the sixth and final seed in the tournament, as well as marking the third straight season with a 16-12 conference tally.

MAC TOURNEY - GAME ONE VERSUS BOWLING GREEN: The RedHawks struck first with two runs in the second inning off three hits. Starting the two-run rally with a double to left field was freshman Paul Frietch (Montgomery, Ohio/Moeller). Sophomore Ryan Edginton (Chester Springs, Pa./Arizona State) singled up the middle to move Frietch over the third. Frietch scored on a wild pitch while Edginton to score when junior Andi Scheidt (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle) ripped an RBI single through the left side.

Facing a 2-0 deficit and Red and White senior hurler Russ Bayer (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) the Falcons notched three runs in the third frame to take a 3-2 lead. Corey Loomis tagged the right-hander for a two-run home run in the frame.

A solo home run by Nick Elrod in the fourth and a two-run double off the bat of Kelly Hunt in the fifth gave the Falcons a 6-2 advantage.

Miami mounted a comeback in the sixth inning by scoring three runs to knot the game at 6-6. Freshman Brian Canada (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) opened the frame with a single through the right side, and was followed by a single from junior David Cook (Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales). Sellery did the rest from there by blasting a three-run home run over the left-center field wall.

A single run in the seventh frame gave the RedHawks their second lead of the ball game 7-6. Canada registered the RBI when he hit a flyball deep enough to center field to sacrifice Edginton home from third base.

Bowling Green took the lead for good 10-6, however, with a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh stanza. With runners on first and second Bayer intentionally walked the MAC Player of the Year Hunt to face Andy Hudak. Hudak made the RedHawks pay for the walk by clearing the bases with a blast over the left-field wall. BGSU went on to win the contest 15-6.

MAC TOURNEY - GAMES TWO AND THREE VERSUS EASTERN MICHIGAN AND BALL STATE: The RedHawks regrouped in a must-win contest against Eastern Michigan with a decisive 14-13 victory. Junior Michael Carlin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) lit up the Eagles pitching staff with a career game belting four home runs in four consecutive at-bats. It was the first time in Miami history that an individual hit four home runs in a single game, as well as setting the MAC tournament record.

The Red and White broke the game open in the third frame when Carlin hit his first of four home runs, one of the three-run nature to give Miami a 4-1 lead. Carlin's next three dingers were all of the solo sort coming in the fourth, fifth and eighth innings. In addition to Carlin's blasts, Scheidt hit his third grand slam of the year while Edginton and Cook each had solo home runs.

Senior hurler Shawn Landis (Pleasant Hill, Ohio/Dayton) didn't have his best stuff on the mound but held the lead for 6.1 innings to improve his record to a perfect 8-0. Prior to the tournament Landis was named to the All-MAC Second Team after going 6-0 with a 3.97 earned run average in conference action. Also earning first-team all-MAC honors were Carlin and junior Mike Galloway (St. Thomas, Ontario/Central Michigan).

Miami's seven team home runs set a MAC tournament single-game record, and catapulted it into a third game against Ball State. In their fifth meeting of the season the Cardinals scored in all nine innings to eliminate the Red and White from the postseason with a 19-16 victory.

The RedHawks didn't go down without a fight, however, as they entered their final three outs down 19-10. Miami's first four batters all scored to narrow the gap to five, 19-14. Junior George Stegmiller (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) ripped a single to load the bases for Cook who delivered with a two-run double. Cook crossed the plate to give Miami 16 runs, but it never got any closer as the Cardinals retired the third out for the victory. Finishing the season with a 31-28 record, the RedHawks' hottest batter was Edginton who ended with a 10-game hitting streak

LIVESTATS AVAILABLE FROM HERE ON OUT: On April 21 at home against Buffalo the RedHawks appeared live on the internet via www.MURedHawks.com for the first time. The gamecast used was very similar to what ESPN.com and CBS.Sportsline.com run on their websites. All of next year's home contests and some away games will be available so the Red and White faithful can now catch the action even when unable to attend the game.

CARLIN'S MAC TOURNAMENT: In three games at the MAC tournament Michael Carlin was seeing watermelons as he led the team with a .500 batting average (7-14), four home runs and seven RBI. After setting a MAC tournament record with four dongs against Eastern Michigan Carlin was named to the all-tournament team. He was Miami's only representative on the all-tourney team joining four Kent State players, four Ball State players and one Central Michigan Chippewa.

Carlin also tied MAC tournament single-game records with four runs and seven RBI against Eastern Michigan. His four round-trippers tie John VanBenschoten of Kent State for the tournament record as well.

THREE REDHAWKS NAMED TO ALL-MAC TEAMS: Juniors Michael Carlin and Mike Galloway, and senior Shawn Landis all earned all-MAC honors at the conclusion of the regular season. Both Carlin and Galloway were named to the first team while Landis garnered second-team accolades.

Carlin was named to the first-team as a designated hitter after belting out a team-high 19 home runs, the highest single-season total in Miami history. Carlin also is ranked 10th in the MAC with a .651 slugging percentage, and is tied for sixth in the conference with nine dingers in league action. Twice this season Carlin has belted three round-trippers in a contest, and is tied with three other RedHawks with four three-baggers. His three-run home run in the 10th inning at Northern Kentucky (March 5) gave the Red and White a 19-15 victory. He capped the season with a record-breaking four home run performance against Eastern Michigan in the MAC tournament.

An NCAA Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American and first-team selection at Central Michigan Galloway garners his second first-team honor in 2002 by leading the conference with a .436 batting average at the end of the regular season. His versatility with the RedHawks this season led to his being named the MAC's top utility player. He started all 59 games this season for the RedHawks, 34 as a first baseman, 15 behind the plate, nine at third, and one as a designated hitter. Galloway also led the MAC in hits and runs scored.

Landis emerged from the bullpen mid-season and was perfect in all six of his starts for the RedHawks. He posted a 4.87 earned run average while running up a perfect 8-0 mark on the hill. For the past two and a half seasons Landis has been a stalwart reliever for the RedHawks tossing 11 wins while never losing in the Red and White uniform. In six conference starts Landis continued is outstanding pitching by leading the conference with 6-0 tally.

DOUBLE CENTURY MARK: Known in the Miami dugout as "Skip" or "Coach Smith", Miami's head coach Tracy Smith joined a distinguished list of Miami baseball coaches when the RedHawks defeated Eastern Michigan at the MAC tournament. The 14-13 win kept Miami alive in the tournament and brought Smith's career record to 200-156, making him the third coach in Miami history to top the 200-win plateau. Jon Pavlisko (379 wins) and Bud Middaugh (356) are the only other two Miami skippers with more than 200 wins on their resume.

THE CUTTING EDGE-INTON: Sophomore Ryan Edginton may have had a slow start in his first season with the RedHawks, but he finished it in style with a 10-game hitting streak. During this stretch Edginton was second on the squad with a .432 (19-44) batting average while crossing the plate a team-high 14 times. He save his best for last by going 4-for-5 from the dish with two RBI and three runs in Miami's final game of the season against Ball State. He also collected five assists from right field, registering the highest assist total by a RedHawks' outfielder in over three season.

The only blemish on Edginton's season was a team-leading 47 strikeouts. His mark of 47 is the fifth highest single-season total.

GALLOWAY'S ASSAULT ON THE RECORD BOOKS: In his first season with the RedHawks junior Mike Galloway has not disappointed anyone but Miami opponents. After batting .579 (22-38) over the final two weeks of the regular season and a 2-for-12 tourney performance, Galloway finishes short of several Miami records.

His final batting average of .422 the second-highest single-season clip behind Chris Sexton's .429 average in 1993. Galloway's 94 hits, 161 total bases, 72 runs, and 63 RBI are also all the second-highest season totals at Miami. On a national level Galloway's .422 clip is tied for 22nd among all Division I players.

TOO MUCH TO BAYER FOR OPPONENTS: Senior Russ Bayer wrapped up his career at Miami as one of them most consistent pitchers to ever wear the Red and White. After a 7-4 senior season Bayer brought his career mark to 28-14, piling up the second-highest win total in Miami history. His 224 strikeouts is the sixth highest at Miami, surpassing the likes of professional hurlers Nate Tekavec and Scott Sauerbeck.

Bayer also showed his versatility as an athlete making several pinch-hit appearances for the RedHawks. In 12 at-bats Bayer managed to knock two hits, including a two-RBI single against Youngstown State on March 28.

SMOOTH AS SCHMIDT: Junior second baseman Zach Schmidt (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas) enjoyed his best season with Miami in 2002. In 59 games Schmidt batting a career-high .310 (54-174) from the dish. He surpassed his career high for RBI with 28, and also tied for the team lead with three triples.

But it wasn't Schmidt's bat that kept him in the lineup day-in and day-out, instead it was his glove. He was the RedHawks most consistent infielder this season committing only nine errors in 286 chances. His .969 fielding percentage was the best among Miami's everyday infielders, and also was a career best for Schmidt. Schmidt led Miami with 161 assists.

LUCKY SEVEN NOT SO LUCKY FOR SLONE: Freshman John Slone (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier) went two-for-three at Indiana on April 9 to extend his hitting streak to seven games, but the streak came at a cost. In his fourth plate appearance Slone drew a base on balls but was hit on the hand during the at-bat. The result was an unfavorable one for the RedHawks as Slone's left-hand pinky was broken. He returned to the lineup for the MAC tournament, and despite not being able to bat was called upon for pinch-running duty against Eastern Michigan.