Hurricanes Set To Host Long Beach State
April 27, 2000
Coral Gables, FL – The University of Miami baseball team (28-14-1), ranked as high as No. 11 by Collegiate Baseball newspaper, hosts Long Beach State (25-17, 13-8 Big West) in a three-game series at Mark Light Stadium on the UM campus, April 28-30.
For ticket information 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.
The Hurricanes’ flagship radio station WQAM 560 AM and spanish WACC 830 AM will carry Friday and Sunday’s games, while student radio WVUM 90.5 FM will have all three games over the weekend. Additionally, Fox Sports Net will televise Sunday’s game.
Miami enters the three games with Long Beach State having taken its last two series against then-No. 1 Florida State in Coral Gables and on the road at N.C. State. In each series the Hurricanes won two of the three games. At home, The Hurricanes have won 14 consecutive three-game series and 42 of its past 43.
UM is led offensively by its talented freshman third baseman Kevin Howard (Thousand Oaks, CA), who was recently tabbed a “mid-season” first-team Freshman All-American by Baseball America. Howard holds the team-high in batting average (.393), hits (57) and doubles (16). Designated hitter Lale Esquivel (Arlington, TX) has also made a push towards the power as he leads the team in home runs (14), slugging percentage (.750), runs scored (40), RBI (44), total bases (87) and walks (31). Esquivel is tied for sixth all-time with 34 career home runs.
On the mound, Miami is led by senior RHP David Gil (Columbus/Miami, FL). Gil (7-1, 2.47 ERA) has won his last two decisions against Florida State and N.C. State and leads all pitchers with 84 strikeouts. Additionally, Gil is in ninth all-time with 277 career strikeouts. LHP Brian Walker (7-2, 3.12) and RHP Kiki Bengochea (4-2, 3.38 ERA) will start on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Walker, a sophomore out of Westminster Christian in Miami, has also won his last two decisions against FSU and N.C. State. Bengochea, a freshman out of Columbus in Miami, was a recent invitee to the USA Baseball National Team camp.
Long Beach State, ranked as high as 21st by Collegiate Baseball and 25th by Baseball America, and Miami have met 12 times dating back to the 1993 season with the Hurricanes holding a 7-5 advantage. Most recently, UM won the final two games of a three-game series last season at Long Beach, CA. The Hurricanes used that two-game win streak to close the regular season and win a total of 11 straight culminating in the 1999 National Championship at the College World Series in Omaha, NE.
The 49ers are led offensively by their junior outfielder Jeff Jones, who has a .378 batting average. Sophomore shortstop Bobby Crosby has a team-best 63 hits with a .366 batting average. Occasional starter sophomore catcher Casey Grzecka has a .389 batting average. On the mound, Long Beach State will go with three right-handers over the weekend: Friday, John Leuenberger (4-2, 4.26 ERA), Saturday, Matt Paz (7-2, 3.39 ERA), Sunday, Jason Berni (3-2, 2.49 ERA).
SERIES INFORMATION
TEAMS: Miami (28-14-1) vs. Long Beach State (25-17, 13-8 Big West)
WHERE: Mark Light Stadium on the UM campus
WHEN: Friday @ 7 p.m., Saturday @ 7 p.m., Sunday @ 1 p.m.
TICKETS: Call 1-800 GO CANES or 305-284-CANES in Dade County
TELEVISION: Fox Sports Net (Sunday only)
RADIO: Flagship WQAM 560 AM (Friday and Sunday)
Spanish WACC 830 AM (Friday and Sunday)
Student WVUM 90.5 FM (All three games)
INTERNET: Log on to at www.hurricanesports.com
