Miami secured its second consecutive Metro Atlantic Conference regular‑season championship on May 16, defeating Akron 15‑8 in a high‑scoring contest that also marked head coach Brian Smiley’s 100th career win.
Key Moments in the Victory
The RedHawks opened the game with Marcus Dierks doubling down the left‑field line, followed by an RBI single from Evan Appelwick that put them ahead 1‑0. After loading the bases, a sacrifice fly and a groundout extended the lead to 3‑0 in the top of the first inning.
Akron answered in the second with a single, but Miami pulled away in the third when Diego Cruz walked, Dominic Krupinski singled, and Matthew Buffington’s sacrifice bunt brought in a run. Dierks later walked, and Tommy Harrison smashed a home run that opened the game up to 7‑1.
Ryan Novak added a double and Cruz delivered an RBI single, pushing the margin to 8‑1. A flurry of hits in the sixth inning — including a Krupinski double — produced two more runs, while later bursts of offense added several more, culminating in a 15‑8 final score.
On the mound, Troy Benko earned the win after pitching 5.2 innings and limiting Akron to six hits in 87 pitches, while reliever Austin Berggren closed out the ninth with a strikeout and two groundouts.
Looking Ahead to the Tournament
The victory clinched the RedHawks the No. 1 seed and a first‑round bye in the upcoming MAC Tournament in Avon, Ohio, where they will open play on Thursday, May 21 at 2 p.m.