Miami University's diamond sports have both entered pivotal positions in their season.
The baseball and softball squads each struggled during their early non-conference play but now have a shot at redemption in their MAC schedules. One team's fortunes have changed like the weather, the other one remains as cold as the winter temperatures Oxford is shedding.
The baseball team had a tall order in front of them from the get-go. Playing three top 10 opponents in the first three games, followed by a match-up with the No. 25 team in the nation immediately afterwards is difficult for any team.
It's hard to criticize the RedHawks for notching only one win out of the first four ballgames with such stiff competition. The pill that's hard to swallow is Miami's two separate six-game losing streaks since then, including one at the beginning of the conference schedule.
You can toss out the early non-conference schedule like an empty Natty Light can; it doesn't really matter. What truly matters is the MAC record and doing well in conference. Any added success outside of that is just gravy.
Unfortunately for the McKie Field faithful, the RedHawks are only 3-6 at home and 2-7 in the MAC.
While it may not be time to hit the panic button with 20 conference games remaining, you may want to have your finger on it.
Miami certainly has some talent to turn the season around. Chris Nadeau, Tommy Nurre and Jordan Petraitis are all having a fine season at the plate. Each is showing why these three were highly touted before the season started.
Yet outside these three, Miami isn't getting much firepower. Junior J.D. Mynhier joins Nadeau, Nurre and Petraitis as the only 'Hawks averaging .290 or above. After these four, the highest batting average is only .257.
Miami is going to need more offensive production to get the season rolling.
The RedHawks' once stellar pitching has started to unravel as well. The Red and White has only three pitchers with an ERA under 4.00. Only one of those three is a starting pitcher at that.
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The old adage in baseball is that you can't have enough pitching. Right now the RedHawks are learning that the hard way with seven pitchers allowing a .300 average to opposing batters.
There's still a chance to salvage the season, but after losing the last 10 of 12 games, the 'Hawks have less time than the average Britney Spears stint in rehab.
However, while the baseball gods continue to frown on Miami, the softball team has licked its road wounds and sprung to life back home in Oxford.
Away from Miami Softball Stadium, the RedHawks have limped to an 8-14 record. But they enter this weekend's series against Ball State with a 7-3 mark at home. They are playing so well since returning home that I just might buy a couple lotto tickets so I can hopefully pay for the naming rights to their new park.
I give credit to head coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly for rallying her troops after a 9-15 record out of conference to rebound by going 6-2 to start MAC play.
With a majority of their MAC schedule at home, the RedHawks are on the right track to contend for a MAC title.
This team realized the importance of conference play and has risen to the occasion.
While these two teams have taken much different routes so far this season, here's to hoping both destinations make RedHawk fans forget the rough journey.
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