Story Courtesy of Miami Athletic Communications

AVON, Ohio – The Miami RedHawks became the 2025 Mid-American Conference tournament champions Sunday afternoon after beating Toledo 6-3 to complete a three-game sweep. Clayton Burke pitched eight innings, and Carson Byers came in for relief in the final inning to help secure the victory. Miami improves to 35-21 with the win (23-7 MAC), while Toledo drops to 32-29 (17-13 MAC). This marks Miami's first MAC Tournament Championship and NCAA regional qualification since 2005. Dominic Krupinski was named the MVP of the tournament for his play throughout the week.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Starting pitcher Burke saw three up, three down in the first inning to hold the Rockets hitless and scoreless through one.
• Leadoff batter Dillon Baker started Miami's offense with a double down the right field line. He advanced to third on a groundout and scored as Anthony Zarlingo hit a sac groundout to make it 1-0.
• Once again, Burke sent down all three batters he faced in the second.
• Leading off the bottom of the second, Tommy Harrison hit a home run over the right field wall, putting Miami up 2-0 and recording his second home run of the tournament.
• Toledo bagged their first hit of the game to lead off the second. Miami turned a double play, and Blake Buzzeo made a leaping catch to strand the runner and maintain the shutout.
• Anthony Zarlingo and Evan Appelwick each walked to start the bottom of the third. David Novak hit into a fielder's choice, reaching first and putting Zarlingo on third. Krupinski hit a bunt single and advanced to second on the throw, scoring Zarlingo. David Novak advanced to third on the throw and scored on an error, extending the lead to 4-0.
• Burke got rid of all three batters he faced in the fourth with 10 pitches. In the fifth, he went flyout, strikeout, strikeout to send all three down.
• Burke recorded two quick outs with two pitches in the bottom of the sixth and struck out the third batter he faced after a nine-pitch at-bat.
• The RedHawks turned a double play in the seventh and caught a fly ball to keep the Rockets abay.
• Krupinski logged his third hit of the day, a double down the right field line, in the bottom of the seventh. Ty Batusich doubled down the left field line to bring around Miami's fifth run of the day.
• A double and single from Toledo in the eighth inning led to the Rockets scoring their first run of the day, cutting the lead to 5-1.
• The RedHawks responded in the bottom of the eighth inning, as David Novak hit a sac fly to center field that brought home Ryan Novak and extended Miami's lead to 6-1.
• The Rockets made a strong push in the final inning, but their effort came up short, as Miami secured a 6-3 victory.

 
MIAMI GAME NOTES:

• Krupsinski went 3-for-4 with one run and two RBI.
• Baker went 2-for-4 with one run.
• David Novak went 1-for-3 with one run, one RBI and one BB.
• Burke pitched 8.0 innings, surrendering just four hits and three runs.
• Baker now holds the record for the most doubles in a single season in Miami history.

 
UP NEXT: The RedHawks have earned an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2005 season. The selection show begins at 12 p.m. on Monday, May 26 on ESPN2.

All-Tournament Team
EMU - Drew Beckner 
BSU - Dylan Grego
BSU - John Chambers
TOL - Luke Leto
TOL - Caden Konczak
TOL - Ryan Kennedy 
MIA - Anthony Zarlingo
MIA - Cooper Katskee
MIA - Dominic Krupinski
MIA - Clayton Burke
MIA - Dominic Krupinski (MVP)