After playing the first nine games of the season in Tennessee, the Bowling Green baseball team returns to the Buckeye State by beginning Mid-American Conference (MAC) play against Miami (OH) in a three-game series from Friday to Sunday.
First pitch at McKie Field at Hayden Park in Oxford, Ohio, is set for 3 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The Falcons are looking to win their first MAC series of the season for the first time since they took three out of four contests against Ohio in 2021.
A win on Friday would mark the first time the Orange and Brown won back-to-back MAC openers since they defeated Ohio and Toledo to open conference play in 2018 and 2019, respectively. In last year’s MAC opener, BG beat the Ohio Bobcats 5-4.
Matchup History
Bowling Green and Miami have battled 178 times, with the RedHawks holding the all-time series lead, 105-73.
While the Falcons won last year’s series against Miami, taking two out of three games at Stellar Field, BG’s last win on the road against the RedHawks dates back to April 7, 2018.
Scouting Bowling Green
Bowling Green enters the series with a record of just 2-7 and a five-game losing streak. After taking a game against Middle Tennessee State and Memphis, the Falcons were swept by nationally ranked Tennessee last weekend.
While BG has played just nine games so far, the fewest out of any MAC team, their offense is off to a good start.
Along with striking out just 69 times, the fewest in the conference, the Falcons have hit 13 home runs, tied for the second most in the MAC. BGSU has hit a home run in eight of their nine games.
While they have hit just six doubles, the fewest in the conference, BG ranks fourth in the MAC with a .368 on-base percentage, fifth with 13 stolen bases, sixth with a .404 slugging percentage and seventh with a .240 batting average.
However, Bowling Green’s pitching is off to a slow start.
While the Falcons have pitched just 70.2 innings so far, the fewest out of any MAC team, they have allowed the highest opponent batting average in the conference, .347, and hold the second-worst ERA in the MAC, 9.30.
BG has also given up 23 doubles and 12 home runs, the fifth and sixth most in the conference, respectively.
Scouting Miami
Miami enters the series with a 5-6 record, the third-best overall record in the MAC.
Although the RedHawks lost their first four and five of their first six games of the season, they have responded by winning four of their past five games.
Miami’s offense is off to a great start this season.
The RedHawks lead the MAC with 14 home runs and five triples, ranking second in the conference with a .284 batting average, a .480 slugging percentage, a .402 on-base percentage and 92 runs scored.
Along with hitting 21 doubles, the third-most in the conference, MU has struck out just 81 times, the third-fewest mark in the MAC.
However, Miami’s pitching has not been as dominant in the young season.
The RedHawks hold an 8.68 ERA and have allowed 90 walks, the fourth-worst and worst marks in the MAC, respectively.
They also rank sixth in the conference with 71 strikeouts and 22 doubles allowed, seventh with 11 home runs allowed and a .317 opponent batting average.
Falcon Four Players to Watch
Sam Seidel (Bowling Green #21)
The sophomore infielder is the only Falcon to reach base in all nine games this season.
The Greenwich, Ohio, native holds a .281 batting average, a .439 on-base percentage and a .469 slugging percentage.
Seidel has tallied nine hits, six runs scored, a double, triple and home run, six runs batted in, three stolen bases and eight walks while striking out just three times so far this season.
The sophomore two-way player, who pitches and plays in the outfield, is off to a dominant start on the mound and in the batter’s box.
The Archbold, Ohio, native, named MAC Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 26, leads the conference with 14 innings pitched and 21 strikeouts.
On top of that, Newman leads the Falcons with a .371 batting average, three home runs, 13 hits, 11 runs scored, four stolen bases and 23 total bases while ranking second on the team with eight runs batted in.
The junior outfielder has been one of the best hitters in the MAC in the young season.
The Portage, Michigan, native ranks second in the MAC with 18 runs scored, fourth with a 1.307 OPS, fifth with a .405 batting average, a .762 slugging percentage, four home runs and 17 hits, sixth with a .545 on-base percentage and tied for eighth with stolen bases.
The right-hander is riding an eight-game hitting streak and has already racked up five games with multiple hits.
The redshirt junior infielder and outfielder is off to a hot start this season.
The Gilbert, Arizona, native ranks fifth in the MAC with four home runs. He also ranks eighth in the conference with a .682 slugging percentage and 13 runs batted in.
The right-hander, named MAC Co-Player of the Week three times last season, is riding a five-game hitting streak and has hit a home run in three of the past five games.
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