#MACBats Digest: Miami clinches regular season title

In the Mid-American Conference’s final weekend, Miami left no doubt.

The RedHawks swept Akron in emphatic fashion, piling up 45 runs across three games to secure their second straight MAC regular-season title and a first-round bye in Avon.

Kent State also locked up a bye after taking two of three from Toledo, while Western Michigan will roll into the postseason red-hot after a statement sweep of Northern Illinois.

Series Standouts

Miami’s offense overwhelmed Akron from the first inning of the series. Senior infielder Dominic Krupinski and redshirt junior outfielder Tommy Harrison each launched grand slams in the series-opening 17-6 run-rule win, both finishing with five RBI.

Harrison stayed hot in the next game, going a perfect 5-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI in a 13-3 win. Miami’s workhorse, graduate student pitcher Clayton Burke, threw a complete game. He struck out five in the truncated seven inning game, tossing triple-digit pitches for the fifth time in his last seven appearances, limiting the Zips to just three runs. 

Miami finished the job Saturday with a 15-8 win, clinching the regular-season crown.

Five Redhawks, including Harrison, got multiple hits, giving head coach Brian Smiley his 100th career victory. Harrison, unsurprisingly, got his third MAC Player of the Week award for his trouble.  

Kent State survived a tight road series at Toledo, but let the conference lead slip despite taking the first two games. After Golden Flashes starter redshirt sophomore pitcher Easton Tumis allowed three runs through his five, redshirt sophomore Evan Holewinski threw four scoreless innings in relief Thursday, while senior catcher Brody Williams opened the series with a first inning two-run homer.

On Friday, senior pitcher Ciaran Caughey struck out seven over six innings, and sophomore outfielder Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe drove in two runs to help the Flashes erase an early deficit. 

Toledo threatened, scoring a run to bring their deficit to just one, but freshman pitcher Peyton Williams slammed the door shut, striking out all four batters he faced. Kent State secured the series and a first-round bye, but they’ll head to Avon as the No. 2 seed after dropping the finale.

Despite Kent State and Miami securing their spots, Western Michigan may have had the loudest weekend, sweeping Northern Illinois to grab the No. 5 seed and roll into the postseason with momentum. The Broncos rallied in the eighth inning in the first game, then rode graduate student pitcher Ricky Kidd’s six scoreless innings to a 12-2 run-rule win Friday.

Kidd would earn a MAC Player of the Week honor for his efforts, the first Bronco pitcher to win the award this season. 

In what has become a pattern for Western Michigan team, Saturday brought some late drama. 

Down 6-1, Western Michigan chipped away before tying the game in the eighth and winning it on senior infielder Drew Howard’s walk-off single in the ninth. The Broncos will see NIU again immediately, opening MAC Tournament play against the fourth-seeded Huskies.

SENIOR DAY WALKOFF‼️#BroncosReign pic.twitter.com/7bKQyChODN

— Western Michigan Baseball (@WMUBaseball) May 16, 2026

Ball State handled their business against Bowling Green, sweeping the Falcons and clinching the final tournament spot. Junior utilityman Brady Davidson led the way in Thursday’s 6-3 win, while junior outfielder Kendric Sorgius’ grand slam helped power a 10-2 win in Friday’s doubleheader finale. The Cardinals enter Avon as the No. 6 seed.

In a battle of teams on the beach, Eastern Michigan closed their season with a series win over Ohio. Junior pitcher John Carmichael and three different relievers combined for a shutout Thursday, and the Eagles exploded for eight runs in the eighth inning on Friday to clinch the series. Ohio avoided the sweep in the finale with a 15-7 win, despite a 16-hit day from Eastern Michigan.

Central Michigan also finished strong, taking two of three at UMass. Senior pitcher Hayden Bailey threw seven strong innings in Friday’s 5-3 win, and the Chippewas closed the year with a 14-10 victory Saturday behind senior outfielder Rees Campanale’s four-RBI performance.

A look ahead

The field is set for Avon.

The stage is SET 🍿

The 2026 MAC Baseball Championship Bracket is here! See you all at ForeFront Field!

🎟: https://t.co/uVn5JatlB7 | @LECrushers pic.twitter.com/GgzxSPJPN2

— MACtion (@MACSports) May 16, 2026

Miami and Kent State earned first-round byes, while Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Toledo, and Ball State round out the bracket. Miami enters as the defending regular-season champion and top seed, but Kent State, Western Michigan, and Toledo all showed enough late-season form to make the tournament feel wide open.

First pitch on the MAC Baseball Tournament is set for Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time, when Ball State takes on Toledo to start the festivities.