Kent State University
Miami University (OH)
Baseball Opens Conference Slate with Miami at Schoonover
3/22/2019 12:41:00 PM | Baseball
Game 1 (Saturday, March 23): Live Stats | Radio | Video
Game 2 (Saturday, March 23): Live Stats | Video
Game 3 (Sunday, March 24): Live Stats | Radio | Video
KENT, Ohio –The Kent State baseball team (8-10) is set to host Miami (16-3) for a three-game series at Schoonover Stadium to open the Mid-American Conference schedule Saturday and Sunday, March 23-24. A double header is slated for Saturday afternoon starting at 1 p.m. with the second game starting a 4 p.m. or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first game. Sunday will feature a single game to conclude the series at 1 p.m.
The Flashes are entering conference play on a four-game winning streak, picking up three wins against Power Five opponents in the last two game days. The Flashes swept Northwestern in a double header last week and picked up a midweek win at Pitt Wednesday afternoon.
Senior Pete Schuler has been an offensive spark in the heart of the Kent State offense, recording a hit in each of the last six games, including five straight multi-hit games. Named MAC Player of the Week on Monday, Schuler led the Flashes to three victories March 12-15, hitting at a .727 clip with a 1.455 slugging percentage and a .733 on-base percentage. In those three games, Schuler collected eight hits, six RBIs and six runs scored, including two doubles, two home runs and three walks. On the season, he leads the team with a .594 slugging percentage.
On the season, redshirt sophomore Ben Carew leads the Kent State offense, batting .381 with 24 hits, 12 RBI and 12 runs scored. The Appleton, Wis. native is also perfect on the base paths with eight stolen bases. As a team, the Flashes have launched at least one home run in each of the last five games, hitting multiple long balls in four games this season. Sophomore Nick Elsen leads with four, while senior Pavin Parks has added three, including a grand slam against Northwestern.
Miami
Miami will enter Saturday's games 16-3 on the season, falling only to Saint Louis and Murray State on the season. The RedHawks are on a 13-game winning streak dating back to Feb. 24, when they dropped the second game of a double header to Murray State.
The RedHawks have not been shut out this season and are averaging more than eight runs a game and more than ten hits a game. As a team, Miami is batting .303 with 64 extra-base hits, including 14 home runs and 13 triples.
The Miami pitching staff has held its opponents to a .211 batting average, shutting out St. Bonaventure 8-0 in the series finale. The battery has fanned 194 batters while walking 82 and allowing nine home runs on the season.Â
Saturday will mark the 197thtime the two programs will meet with the Flashes leading the all-time series 114-81-1. The teams last met a year ago in the MAC tournament championship. The Flashes beat Miami 7-2 in the winner's bracket final before the teams met again at the championship. Kent State advanced to the NCAA Tournament, defeating the RedHawks 14-0. In the regular season, the Flashes went 1-3 against Miami to close out the regular season as conference champions.
In the MAC preseason coach's poll, the Flashes were selected to win the regular season while the RedHawks were predicted to finish third.
The 2019 Kent State Baseball Season is brought to you by Hometown Bank. Hometown Bank and Kent State Baseball – A Winning Team. There's no place like home.
