April 28, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

REDHAWKS PLAY EASTERN KENTUCKY IN HOME AND HOME SERIES: Before heading into another weekend of Mid American Conference play, the RedHawks travel to Richmond, Kent. this Tuesday to take on the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at 3 p.m. Miami will then face the Colonels again on Wednesday at 6 p.m at McKie Field at Hayden Park.

ABOUT THE COLONELS: After winning four consecutive home games, Eastern Kentucky traveled to Jacksonville, Ala. where it was swept in the three-game series by the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. Sophomore infielder Anthony Ottrando currently leads the Colonels with a batting average of .354 and 41 RBIs, while posting three homeruns. Pitcher Christian Friedrich has made waves nationally with his 2.03 ERA, 77 strikeouts and a solid record of 4-1. Opponents are currently batting .155 against the junior left-hander, and he was recently named to the Dick Howser Trophy Watch List.

THE SERIES WITH EASTERN KENTUCKY: The RedHawks and Colonels are in a deadlock heading into the two-game series with series tied at 8-8. When at home, each team holds the upperhand in overall records, with Miami at 5-4 and Eastern Kentucky at 4-3. The RedHawks have taken the last three against the Colonels.

POWER SURGE: Junior Tommy Nurre had an impressive week at the plate for Miami last week. In five games, Nurre batted .579 and boasted a slugging percentage of .789. The Cincinnati native collected four-doubles and drove in five runs over the five-game stretch. Nurre now has 16 doubles on the season, which is tied for the team lead, and he is one double away from breaking onto Miami's single-season doubles list.

ON A ROLL: Over Miami's last six conference games, junior Tommy Nurre has been the RedHawks top hitter. In three games at Buffalo and three games versus Bowling Green, Nurre is batting .542 (13-for-24). Over that stretch, Nurre has recorded eight two-baggers, scored 10 runs and driven in six runs. Nurre's slugging percentage over that period is .875, while his on-base percentage is .613. Because of those last six games, Nurre is now first in MAC-only play in doubles, second in on-base percentage, third in batting average, eighth in slugging percentage and ninth in hits.

MONEY IN THE EU-BANK: Sophomore Ben Eubank provided a lift for the RedHawks in the last four games. Since being inserted in the starting lineup against Xavier on April 23, Eubank has batted .364 with one double, one home run, and five RBIs. Eubank's slugging percentage is .727 and his on-base percentage is .588 over the last four contests.

REDHAWKS WIN FIRST MAC SERIES: Miami won its first MAC series over the weekend as the RedHawks took two out of three games from Bowling Green. Miami started the series of with a 9-8, 11-inning come-from-behind win. Bowling Green took the second game on Saturday, before Miami responded with a 13-4 win in the rubber match of the series.

THERE IS A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING: Last week was a week of firsts for four RedHawk players. Against Indiana State on Tuesday, April 22, freshman Jon Edgington hit a breaking ball over the left field wall for his first home run in a RedHawk uniform. The next day at Xavier, sophomore Ben Eubank hit the first home run of his career as he helped the RedHawks to a come-from-behind win over the Musketeers. Finally, on Sunday, April 27, freshman Kyle Weldon recorded the first hit of his career, while freshman Tyler Melling earned his first win in a Miami uniform after throwing 5.1 innings and striking out three against Bowling Green.

HITTING THE BOOKS: Junior Jordan Petraitis has been a staple in the Miami lineup since he stepped on campus three years ago and he is approaching the Miami career record books. Petraitis needs one triple, one doubles and 12 hits to tie for 10th place on those Miami single-season charts. Petraitis also needs just one more double to tie for 10th on the single-season doubles list. Senior Bobby Oberschlake has already moved his way into the career record books in appearances. Oberschlake has made 70 appearances in his career, which tied for fourth on Miami's all-time list.