Preview: Miami (Ohio) Redhawks at Dayton Flyers

DAYTON, Ohio (Interstat) — The Miami (Ohio) Redhawks and Dayton Flyers, two regional rivals with nearly identical records, meet for the second time in a week Tuesday at Woerner Field.

First pitch is scheduled for the evening. The forecast calls for cloudy skies and a temperature of 47 degrees.

The Redhawks (14-8) won the previous meeting 13-7 in Oxford on March 18. Dayton (14-9) seeks to even the season series and gain momentum before Atlantic 10 Conference play resumes this weekend.

A key matchup will feature Miami right-hander Clayton Burke against Dayton’s power-hitting first baseman Bobby Stang. Burke, a player to watch, has been inconsistent but dominant at times. In his last start, a 6-4 loss at Northern Illinois on March 22, he struck out six over 5 2/3 innings but allowed four earned runs. On March 1, he threw five no-hit innings in a loss at Southeast Missouri State.

Stang, the Flyers’ offensive catalyst, drove in four runs, including a home run, in Dayton’s 14-12 win over VCU on Sunday. He also had three RBIs in the loss at Miami last week. His production is often a bellwether for the Flyers’ lineup.

Both teams are coming off series losses. Miami dropped two of three at Northern Illinois, while Dayton lost two of three at home to VCU before the high-scoring Sunday victory.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is Miami (Ohio) 6, Dayton 4.

Following this midweek contest, Miami opens Mid-American Conference play at Kent State on Friday. Dayton begins an A-10 series at Davidson.