Massachusetts at Miami (Ohio)

OXFORD, Ohio (Interstat) — The Miami (Ohio) Redhawks look to complete a weekend sweep of the Massachusetts Minutemen on Sunday afternoon at Stanley G. McKie Field at Joseph P. Hayden Jr. Park, with first pitch set under a forecast of 67 degrees and rain.

Miami (34-15) has already taken the first two games of the Mid-American Conference series, winning 10-8 on Saturday and 9-8 on Friday, and boasts a winning record that contrasts sharply with Massachusetts’ struggles. The Minutemen enter at 17-26, losers of five of their last six contests.

The Redhawks have been powered by third baseman Dominic Krupinski, who has homered in each of the first two games of the series. On Saturday, Krupinski went 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. He has been consistent throughout the season, driving in at least one run in nine of his last 11 games.

Massachusetts will look to right-hander Adam Merritt to halt the slide. Merritt, however, struggled in his last outing on Saturday, allowing five earned runs in five innings despite not surrendering a hit, as walks and defensive miscues plagued him. He struck out two in the loss. Earlier this season, Merritt has shown flashes of effectiveness, tossing five innings of two-run ball in a win over Ohio on May 2.

The Minutemen’s offense has been led by center fielder Anthony Tirado, who went 2 for 3 with an RBI in Saturday’s loss. But the team has been inconsistent, alternating wins and losses over the past two weeks before dropping the first two games at Miami.

The Redhawks’ pitching staff has held Massachusetts to eight runs in each game but has also benefitted from timely hitting. On Saturday, reliever Jake Tedesco threw three scoreless innings with three strikeouts to earn the win. Center fielder Marcus Dierks also contributed three hits.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Miami is favored 7-5. The Redhawks will send an undetermined starter to the mound Sunday, while Massachusetts counter with Merritt.

The game is the third of a three-game series. After Sunday, Miami travels to Akron for a three-game set beginning Thursday, while Massachusetts returns home to host Central Michigan on Thursday.