Baseball To Host Michigan This Weekend
March 15, 2000
Coral Gables, FL – The University of Miami baseball team (17-8), ranked No. 13 in the latest Baseball Weekly/ESPN Coaches’ Poll, will host BIG TEN member Michigan (6-6) in a weekend series beginning Friday at Mark Light Stadium on the UM campus.
Friday night’s game will be televised by Fox Sports Net. All three games can be listened to on the radio at WVUM 90.5 FM, while Friday’s game can also be heard in Spanish at WACC 830 AM. Tickets for all UM baseball games can be purchased prior to gameday at the UM Ticket Box Office at the Hecht Athletic Center or one-hour before the game at Mark Light Stadium. Please call 1-800 GO CANES or 305-284-CANES in Dade County for further ticket information.
Miami and Michigan have met nine previous times in the all-time series that began in the 1958 season, with the Hurricanes leading 7-2. Miami enters the weekend series riding a modest two-game win streak in the series, having defeated the Wolverines in two games at Mark Light Stadium in 1993. Michigan last defeated the Hurricanes, 7-5, at the Wheaties Tournament of Champions in Minneapolis, MN in 1986.
The Hurricanes enter the weekend having claimed three-game series victories in the past 16 and 33 of the last 34. Additionally, Miami has won 39 of the last 40 three-game series at Mark Light Stadium. This season, UM swept all three games in its two series with South Florida and C.W. Post, followed by taking two of three games from Rutgers last weekend. Miami last lost a three-game series when it fell two games out of three to Florida State, May 1-3, 1998.
Miami is led offensively by its freshman duo of shortstop Kevin Howard (.417 batting average) and first baseman Danny Matienzo (413 batting average).
Starting off the series on the mound for the Hurricanes will be ace right-handed pitcher senior David Gil (3-0, 2.87 ERA). Gil will be looking for his 17th consecutive victory when he faces Michigan on Friday night. Gil, whose last loss came in the 1998 season, looks to challenge the school-record for consecutive wins by a pitcher of 18 held by Jerry Brust (1974-75).
Sophomore LHP Brian Walker (3-1, 2.05 ERA) and freshman RHP Kiki Bengochea (3-1, 1.80 ERA) will start on the mound for UM on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Michigan enters the series on a four-game win streak with its most recent win coming over Kent, 16-12, on March 12. The Wolverines started out the season 2-6 before winning its past four straight. Offensively, Michigan is led by freshman third baseman Brock Koman (.438 batting average). Koman also leads the team with 21 hits, eight doubles and 11 RBI. On the mound for the Wolverines on Friday night will be junior RHP Vince Pistilli (1-1, 2.30 ERA), followed by senior LHP Bryan Cranson (2-1, 5.51 ERA) and sophomore RHP Bobby Korecky (1-1, 5.52 ERA) on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Series Information
WHO: No. 13 Miami (17-8) vs. Michigan (6-6)
WHEN: Friday @ 7 p.m., Saturday @ 7 p.m., Sunday @ 1 p.m.
WHERE: Mark Light Stadium on the UM campus
TICKETS: Call 1-800 GO CANES or 305-284-CANES in Dade County
TELEVISION: Fox Sports Net on Friday
RADIO: Student Radio WVUM 90.5 FM all three games
Spanish Radio WACC 830 AM on Friday
PROBABLE PITCHERS:
Friday UM – David Gil/SR/RHP/3-0/2.78 ERA/6-4/220/Miami, FL
MI – Vince Pistilli/JR/RHP/1-1/2.30 ERA/6-2/180/Highland, IN
Saturday UM – Brian Walker/SO/LHP/3-1/2.05 ERA/6-3/204/Miami, FL
MI – Bryan Cranson/SR/LHP/2-1/5.51 ERA/6-5/210/Bronson, MI
Sunday UM – Kiki Bengochea/FR/RHP/3-1/1.80 ERA/6-2/195/Miami, FL
MI – Bobby Korecky/SO/RHP/1-1/5.52 ERA/5-11/165/Saline, MI
