Miami set to face Wright St. in Nuxhall Classic

Miami University's Kyle Weldon knocks a ground ball to first base during the team's home opener against Northern Kentucky Wednesday March 17, 2010, at McKie Field in Oxford, Ohio.

Staff photo by Nick Daggy Miami University's Kyle Weldon knocks a ground ball to first base during the team's home opener against Northern Kentucky Wednesday March 17, 2010, at McKie Field in Oxford, Ohio.

ENLARGE PHOTO

High school sports results for May 26
5/26/12
Reds' six-game winning streak broken
5/26/12
Annual Warrior Soccer Classic kicks off today
5/26/12
Dragons' rally falls short against Lansing
5/26/12
WSU baseball ousted from tournament
5/26/12
> More sports headlines

By Skip Weaver, Staff Writer Updated 12:34 AM Tuesday, April 12, 2011

OXFORD — Miami University baseball coach Dan Simonds said on Monday that his team is looking forward to playing in the third annual Joe Nuxhall Classic.

The RedHawks will open the first day of action at 3 p.m. today when they step onto the University of Cincinnati’s Marge Schott Field to face Wright State.

“We’re looking forward to it. It’s always a great tournament,” Simonds said. “There are four quality programs that do things the right way with integrity and character which is what Mr. Nuxhall was all about.”

Miami faced UC in the finals last year at McKie Field, but came up a little short. Simonds said that has his team motivated for this year’s tournament.

“I think the guys remember that definitely,” Simonds said. “And they certainly would like to get back there and win it this time.

“We get motivated to play this game at any time, but there is a little something more to this tournament than just any midweek game,” he continued. “And we’ve been playing some pretty good baseball, although we would like to have done a little better over the weekend.”

The RedHawks (16-16) lost back-to-back games to Northern Illinois on Saturday and Sunday after winning the series opener on Friday.

In the two games prior to the NIU series, Miami defeated two Big Ten opponents — Indiana University 6-1 on April 5 and Ohio State 12-4 on April 6.

Simonds said the RedHawks’ pitching and defense has been pretty solid and there are a couple of bats in the middle of his lineup — Kyle Weldon and Adam Weisenburger — that are starting to come around.

Weldon is batting .339 and leads the team in hits (42), home runs (6) and RBIs (27). Weisenburger is second in RBIs (24) and is batting .280 with three homers and nine doubles.

“They are coming out of some early season struggles,” Simonds said. “They will be key figures for us in the second half of the season if we are going to make a run in the (Mid-American Conference).”

ontact this reporter at (513)

705-2852

sweaver

coxohio.com.