Baseball Hosts Top-Ranked Florida State Tonight At 7 p.m.
April 13, 2000
Coral Gables, FL – The University of Miami baseball team (24-12-1), ranked No. 17 in the Baseball Weekly/ESPN Coaches’ Poll, host top-ranked Florida State (36-5) in a three-game series at Mark Light Stadium on the UM campus, beginning this Friday at 7 p.m.
Fox Sports Net will televise Friday and Saturday’s games with Florida Marlins broadcaster Jay Randolph and former Hurricane coach Ron Fraser “The Wizard of College Baseball” on the call.
UM’s flagship station WQAM 560 AM will carry Friday and Saturday’s games, while Spanish radio WACC 830 AM will carry Saturday’s game only. Student radio WVUM 90.5 FM will broadcast all three games live. For ticket information, please call the UM Ticket Box Office at 1-800 GO CANES or 305-284-CANES in Dade County. Tickets can also be purchased prior to the game at the Hecht Athletic Center at 5821 San Amaro Drive on the UM campus or before the game at Mark Light Stadium.
For the first time since 1993, the Hurricanes were swept in all three games in Tallahassee. Highlighted by last Friday’s 17-inning thriller, two of the three games last weekend was decided by one run. Last Friday, the Seminoles knocked in four runs in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings. FSU then answered UM’s two runs scored in the top of the 17th with three in the bottom of the frame to win 14-13 in the series-opener. The 17 innings was the longest game for each school.
The other one-run decision came on Sunday, when FSU defeated Miami 5-4 with a run scored in the bottom of the ninth inning. Down 4-2, Miami came back with two runs in the top of the ninth on a two-out two-RBI single by Mike Rodriguez. FSU answered with a walk and a game-winning double off UM reliever Greg Howell.
On the mound for the Hurricanes over the weekend will by senior RHP David Gil on Friday night, followed by LHP Brian Walker (Saturday) and RHP Kiki Bengochea (Sunday). Gil and Walker each share the team-high in wins (5), while Bengochea (4-1) has won four consecutive.
The Seminoles, who won 7-5 over Jacksonville on Wednesday, check in with a 36-5 record and the nation’s top ranking in all three major college baseball polls. FSU is led by sophomore outfielder John-Ford Griffin’s team-high .458 batting average and 77 hits. On the mound for the Seminoles will be ace RHP Jon McDonald on Friday, followed RHP Mike Zieglar (Saturday) and RHP Blair Varnes (Sunday).
Series Information
WHAT: #17 Miami (24-12-1) at #1 Florida State (36-5)
WHERE: Mark Light Stadium, Coral Gables, FL
WHEN: Friday @ 7 p.m., Saturday @ 7 p.m., Sunday @ 1 p.m.
TELEVISION: Fox Sports Net (Friday and Saturday)
RADIO: Flagship WQAM 560 AM (Friday and Saturday)
Spanish WACC 830 AM (Saturday)
Student – WVUM 90.5 FM (All three games)
PROBABLE PITCHERS:
FRIDAY UM – David Gil/SR/RHP/5-1/2.65 ERA/6-4/220/Miami, FL
FSU – Jon McDonald/JR/RHP/8-1/4.18 ERA/6-3/200/Orlando, FL
SATURDAY UM – Brian Walker/SO/LHP/5-2/3.51 ERA/6-3/204/Miami, FL
FSU – Mike Zieglar/JR/RHP/7-1/2.44 ERA/6-3/225/Glen Burnie, MD
SUNDAY UM – Kiki Bengochea/FR/RHP/4-1/2.61 ERA/6-2/195/Miami, FL
FSU – Blair Varnes/SO/RHP/6-1/3.05 ERA/6-2/195/Pascagoula, MS
