Story Courtesy of Miami Athletic Communications
ABOUT MIAMI
• The RedHawks enter Friday's game 35-21 (.625 win percentage). Miami finished the MAC season 23-7 to claim its sixth regular-season MAC Championship this year (1973, 1974, 1979, 1983, 2005 and 2025) and then went on to take its fourth MAC Tournament Championship (1983, 2000, 2005 and 2025). This is just the third time in program history that the Red and White have won both the regular season and conference championship in the same season.
• This is the RedHawks eighth appearance in the NCAA tournament (1973, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1983, 2000 and 2005). This is Miami's first time playing in the Knoxville Regional.
• This year the RedHawks had seven players recognized as All-MAC: Evan Appelwick, Dillon Baker, Ty Batusich, Carson Byers, Cooper Katskee, Ryan Novak and Anthony Zarlingo. Appelwick, Baker and Katskee earned a spot on the First Team while Batusich, Byers, Novak and Zarlingo were named to the Second Team. Katskee also received the MAC Pitcher of the Year title and Zarlingo was named to the All-Defensive Team.
• Dominic Krupinski earned MAC Tournament MVP honors last week for his efforts in the 2025 MAC Baseball Championship. He recorded a .583 batting average and a .643 on-base percentage, which led the MAC Tournament. He also racked up up seven hits, four RBI, three doubles and two runs. Krupinski has set career highs in numerous categories this season including hits (70), runs (50), doubles (17), RBI (42) and stolen bases (7) in 2025.
• Clayton Burke, Cooper Katskee, Dominic Krupinski and Anthony Zarlingo were all named to the MAC All-Tournament team.
• Brian Smiley was named the 2025 MAC Coach of the Year after leading the RedHawks to 23 regular season conference wins, the most in Red and White history. After a 27-27 record in 2024, the 2025 squad improved to 35-21 under the second-year coach. Smiley is the first head coach to receive MAC Coach of the Year since Tracy Smith in 2005. The RedHawks also won a share of the regular season and MAC Tournament Championship for the first time since 2005 under Smiley's coaching.
• This year Miami went undefeated in conference series, taking at least two games from every opponent in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) this season.
NUMBERS WATCH:
• Pitcher Cooper Katskee is tied for third in the country in complete games (3), tied for third in wins (11), 16th in hits allowed per nine innings (5.98), 23rd in WHIP (0.98) and 27th in ERA (2.66).
• The Miami offense ranks 12th in the country in base on balls (333), 17th in on-base percentage (.424) and 20th in sacrifice flies (33). The RedHawks are also 34th in the nation in runs (459) and 35th in scoring (8.2).
• Dillon Baker enters the tournament with 23 doubles on the season, first-most in program history.
• Evan Appelwick ranks 24th in the nation with 19 home runs. This total is tied for fourth in Miami history over a single-season for home runs. He is now two home runs away from tying the all-time record (21).
• This season, the RedHawks have set or currently hold numerous program records, which includes on-base percentage (.424), hits (563), walks (333) and rbi (431).
MIAMI VS. NCAA REGIONAL FIELD
For the first time since 2005, the Miami baseball team will be competing in the NCAA Tournament and facing off against some familiar opponents.
All-Time Series vs. Tennessee: Tied 3-3
All-Time Series vs. Wake Forest: Wake Forest leads 1-0
All-Time Series vs. Cincinnati: Miami leads 113-83-2
HAWKS AND THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The Miami RedHawks make their eighth NCAA Tournament appearance this weekend. The RedHawks are 7-14 all-time in NCAA Tournament play. Miami has never advanced past a regional.
STORYLINES TO WATCH:
• The last time Miami faced off with Cincinnati in the NCAA Tournament was in 1974. The Red and White defeated the Bearcats 3-0 in the NCAA District 4 Playoffs (Minneapolis, Minn.).
• Advancing through the Knoxville Regional would result in the RedHawks securing a spot in a super regional for the first time in program history.
