Following multiple weather delays, the Miami University RedHawks baseball team will play its first game of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament against the No. 5 University of Toledo Rockets at 10 a.m. on May 23 in Avon, Ohio.
With a 2-1 series win against the Ball State University Cardinals to close out the regular season on May 17, the RedHawks took the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. Miami won every conference series this season and finished with a 23-7 record in the MAC.
The conference awarded multiple RedHawks on May 20. Redshirt sophomore pitcher Cooper Katskee earned MAC Pitcher of the Year, the first RedHawk to earn the award since 2014 (Seth Varner). Head coach Brian Smiley became the first Miami coach since 2005 (Tracy Smith) to be named MAC Coach of the Year.
Katskee, redshirt junior infielder Evan Appelwick and redshirt senior infielder Dillon Baker were named All-MAC First Team, and an additional four RedHawks made All-MAC Second Team.
Miami set a program record with 23 conference wins, giving the team its first regular season title since 2005. The RedHawks share the title with the No. 2 Kent State University Golden Flashes.
Despite the RedHawks’ success in the regular season, Smiley said this weekend doesn’t differ from any other weekend series they’ve played in 2025.
“Going through this league, you’re facing quality competition every single weekend,” Smiley said. “I think every coach in the league would echo that … Coming off a really tight series [against] Ball State last weekend that honestly could have gone either way [got] us ready for this weekend.”
The RedHawks opened conference play with a series win against Toledo at the beginning of March. Miami brought in two wins, including a 5-0 shutout, before dropping the third matchup 9-7.
Senior outfielder Anthony Zarlingo brought in two runs towards Miami’s five in the first game against the Rockets. Pitchers Hayden Cuthbertson and Carson Byers allowed no runs from the Rockets.
Five players added a run in the second game, including two from Appelwick. The game remained even early on, but a three-run inning in the bottom of the third ultimately gave Miami the victory. The Rockets nearly tied the game in the ninth but fell short by one run, giving the RedHawks a 6-5 win and the series.
Redshirt sophomore outfielder Luke Walton scored three runs to give Toledo a 9-7 win to close out the weekend. Miami’s early lead fell flat when the Rockets scored three runs in the third and fifth innings.
Since then, the RedHawks combined for 44 home runs in MAC play, the second-most behind Ball State. Appelwick leads the team with 19, ranking him 20th in the nation.
Enjoy what you're reading?
Signup for our newsletter
Toledo’s pitching will be a battle for Miami. The Rockets’ pitchers have a combined earned-runs average (ERA) of 4.68, the lowest in the conference.
Toledo’s pitching and defense overall allowed the Rockets to take three-straight wins with 10 or more runs against the Central Michigan University Chippewas to close out the regular season.
Toledo dominated the first game with 21 runs while allowing three in return. Redshirt sophomore infielder Troy Sudbrook led the roster with four runs, and three more Rockets contributed three each in the seven-inning victory.
The Chippewas kept the second game closer, but back-to-back three-run innings gave Toledo an 11-5 win. To close out the regular season, the Rockets outscored Central Michigan 16-4 to take the No. 5 seed in the tournament.
A high-scoring affair in their first postseason matchup concluded with a 14-12 Toledo victory over the Bowling Green State University Falcons. Despite allowing five runs in the first inning, the Rockets quickly rebounded with nine points in the second. They kept their lead, although the Falcons brought the game within one run in the fifth inning.
Today’s matchup gives the RedHawks an opportunity for revenge from the 2024 MAC tournament when the Rockets sent Miami home. Following a loss to Bowling Green, Miami dropped its game against Toledo 8-4 to end the 2024 season.
The teams will enter Crushers Stadium at 10 a.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Read More
Miami softball faces Tennessee in NCAA Regionals after winning fourth-straight MAC championship
By Kethan Babu | May 16, 2025With Miami's title as the MAC softball champions, the RedHawks travel to Knoxville this afternoon for the NCAA Regionals
Miami softball heads into MAC Tournament as the No. 1 seed
By Hayley Luby | May 8, 2025Miami softball won the MAC regular season and begins tournament play on May 8 against Ball State.
The rise in sports gambling: How perspective can prevent financial strife
By Kethan Babu and Graham Young | May 6, 2025Sports gambling isn’t going away anytime soon. When bettors participate in a healthy manner, it can be a fun way to engage with the athletic realm. However, as the betting industry continues to spread, so does concern over online harassment and growing addictions to sports gambling.