The University of Akron Athletics
Baseball Set for Three-Game Series at Miami (Ohio)
April 03 | Baseball
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AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron baseball team travels to Mid-American Conference opponent Miami (Ohio) University for a three-game series this weekend, beginning on Friday at 6 p.m., on McKie Field. The series will continue on Saturday at 3 p.m., and conclude on Sunday with a 1 p.m., first pitch.
Gameday Information
Friday – 6 PM
Akron: So., LHP John Valek III
Miami: Sr., LHP Seth Varner
Saturday – 3 PM
Akron: So., RHP JT Brubaker
Miami: Jr., RHP Nathan Williams
Sunday – 1 PM
Akron: R-Jr., RHP Myles McVeigh
Miami: Jr., RHP Ryan Powers
Midweek games…
Akron split the two midweek matchups scheduled this week. UA dropped the first game on Tuesday to Marshall by a final score of 5-2. Redshirt senior James Sheltrown led the squad with two hits, including one double, while redshirt junior Joey Havrilak contributed a run scored, a hit and a walk.
Wednesday's game against Canisius at Canal Park went right down to the wire, as the Zips won 2-1 on a walk-off single by redshirt senior Brady Stewart in the bottom of the tenth.
Sophomore Michael Steensen made a scoreless start over 5.0 innings with three hits allowed and four strikeouts. Junior Matt Rembielak notched two base hits, one double and two runs scored, with Sheltrown drawing three total walks in the win.
Last weekend…
The Zips traveled to the Toledo Rockets for a three-game set, and UA came away with two wins in the series. Akron opened the weekend with a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Toledo, as UA plated two runs in the ninth to earn the win.
In game two of the doubleheader on Friday, Akron came back to win yet again. With the Zips down 5-3 in the fourth, Havrilak belted a grand slam to put Akron up two runs. Sophomore Zach Beaver claimed his first save of 2014 with a scoreless inning in the ninth.
Akron wrapped up the weekend with a 4-3 loss on Saturday to Toledo. Kris Simonton and Dom Iero had two hits apiece, and Myles McVeigh tossed 5.0 innings with two runs allowed. Toledo earned the win on a walk-off RBI single off of Akron reliever Masashi Sakamoto.
In three games over the weekend, Havrilak batted .461, while also totaling two runs scored, one double, one homer, and five RBI. He earned MAC East Player of the Week for his performance vs. Toledo.
The Rotation…
Sophomore John Valek III is fresh off his longest start of the season, a 6.1 inning performance with two runs allowed in game one on Friday at Toledo. Overall, Valek (2-2) has made six starts this season, and has accrued a 2.52 ERA over 35.2 innings. He ranks seventh overall in ERA among all MAC starters.
Sophomore JT Brubaker is set to make his sixth start in 2014, and is looking to improve on his 2-1 overall record. Last time out, Brubaker earned the win in game two on Friday over Toledo following 5.2 innings with four earned runs allowed and three strikeouts. Brubaker carries a 4.13 ERA over 28.1 innings this season.
Redshirt junior Myles McVeigh will be making his third consecutive start in the Sunday role for the Zips. McVeigh's last outing was on Saturday against the Rockets, and he turned in 5.0 innings with two runs allowed and one strikeout. He has allowed two runs in 11.0 innings as a starter this season with 10 strikeouts.
Amongst the leaders…
Zips baseball is off to a hot start within the conference, as the team has a 5-1 record through the first two MAC series. UA is currently atop the MAC East Division, with Kent State (4-2 MAC) and Buffalo (3-2) looming behind. Central Michigan leads the West Division with a 6-0 record to start league play.
The Akron offense owns a .281 overall batting average, which ranks second in the MAC heading into the weekend. UA's top five batting average leaders with 50 at-bats are Devan Ahart (.344), Brian Lees (.323), Havrilak (.311), Simonton (.299) and Sheltrown (.278). The squad has accumulated 13 games with 10 hits or more, including a season-high of 18 hits in the 13-5 win over Milwaukee (March 9).
UA also ranks among the top five in the MAC in slugging percentage (5th, .363), hits (4th, 242), doubles (5th, 40), home runs (T-4th, 9), total bases (4th, 313), and stolen bases (4th, 37).
Scouting the RedHawks…
Miami (Ohio) comes into the weekend series with a 10-16 overall record and 2-4 within the MAC, and are currently tied with Bowling Green for fourth in the East Division.
Last weekend, Miami suffered a series sweep at the hands of Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant, Mich. The RedHawks took two of three from the Western Michigan Broncos to open MAC play two weekends ago.
Head coach Danny Hayden is in his first year at the helm of the Miami baseball team. This season, the RedHawks own a .279 batting average, and have five hitters batting over .300. Senior Seth Varner leads the rotation with a 4-1 record and a 3.22 ERA over 44.2 innings. The team overall has a 5.88 ERA.
Looking ahead…
Akron will be on the road for two midweek games next week at Pittsburgh and Canisius, before heading home to play a three-game set against MAC East opponent Ohio University. The OU series will begin on Friday at 3 p.m., on Lee R. Jackson Field.
