Baseball Opens Season With FAU, Thursday At 7 PM
Jan. 24, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team, ranked as high as fourth nationally by Baseball America, open the 2001 season with local-rival Florida Atlantic in a three-game series beginning Thursday, January 25 at Mark Light Stadium.
The two teams will square off on Thursday at 7 p.m. with New York Yankees star pitcher Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez throwing out the first pitch. Friday night’s game will also take place at 7 p.m., but at FAU’s Foley Field in Boca Raton. Both teams return to Mark Light Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m. for the final game of the season-opening series with former Hurricane All-American and Florida Marlins catcher Charles Johnson throwing out the first pitch.
Miami leads FAU 33-5 in the all-time series that began in 1982. Additionally, the Hurricanes have won 15 of the last 16 meetings, including an 11-5 win over the Owls during the 2000 Coral Gables NCAA Regional. Head Coach Jim Morris is 13-1 against FAU since coming to UM in 1994. The lone loss to FAU during the Morris era was a 7-2 defeat at Mark Light Stadium on Feb. 9, 2000.
The Hurricanes, who have a 35-21 record in season-openers, last defeated Lynn University (5-4) in the 2000 season-opener and are on a modest three game win streak since 1998. Additionally, the Hurricanes have not lost a season-opener at Mark Light Stadium since dropping a 9-7 decision to Florida on Feb. 3, 1984.
Miami returns 21 lettermen from last year’s squad that advanced to within one game of returning to the College World Series in Omaha, NE and went 41-19-1. All but one position starter and one starting pitcher return, as well as the addition of 12 newcomers to Coral Gables.
On the mound of the Hurricanes serving as the No. 1 pitcher will be preseason All-American junior LHP Brian Walker, who led the team in 2000 with a 12-2 record. Backing up Walker will be sophomore RHP Kiki Bengochea and senior RHP Tom Farmer. Bengochea last played for the United State National Team this past summer, compiling a 3-0 record with zero earned runs in 20 appearances. Farmer was an all-star selection at the Virginia Valley League playing with the Staunton Braves.
Shoring up the UM bullpen will be junior RHP Luke DeBold, a veteran who will enter the season as the closer. Freshman RHP George Huguet will open the season as the main set-up pitcher, with fellow pitchers Daniel Touchet (RHP), Alex Prendes (LHP), Dan Smith (RHP), T.J. Prunty (RHP), Chris Bell (RHP), J.D. Cockroft (LHP) and Andrew Cohn (RHP) serving in relief. Junior RHP Chris Sheffield and junior LHP Jeff Reboin will serve in the No. 4 pitcher role or long relief. The Hurricanes will have the addition of 2000 preseason All-American Vince Vazquez, who missed last season recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery.
Around the bases Miami will look similar to the 2000 squad with several players with double-figure starts returning: Kevin Brown (1B), Kris Clute (2B), Javy Rodriguez (SS), Kevin Howard (3B), Mike DiRosa (C), Kevin Mannix (RF), Mike Rodriguez (CF), Marcus Nettles (LF) and Danny Matienzo (DH). Greg Lovelady (C), Charlton Jimerson (CF), Jim Burt (RF), Alex Blanco (SS), Matt Dryer (2B), Brad Safchik (CF), Haas Pratt (INF/OF) and Ornan Reinoso (1B) round out the rest of the UM position players.
FAU, which went 43-19 in 2000, lost 16 lettermen from last season’s squad that advanced to NCAA Regional action. Among the 12 lettermen returning are top hitters Regan Samaniego (DH/OF, .358 BA) and Gabe Somarriba (CF, .322 BA) and pitcher Petersen Benjamin (RHP, 12-1 in 2000 with 2.86 ERA).
Call 1-800-GO-CANES for season and individual game ticket information or check out UM’s official athletic website www.hurricanesports.com for updated information regarding the baseball team.
SERIES INFORMATION:WHAT: University of Miami vs. Florida Atlantic UniversityWHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, 7 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. SaturdayWHERE: Thursday and Saturday at Mark Light Stadium Friday at Foley Field, FAU campus, Boca RatonRADIO: Thursday - WQAM 560 AM, WACC 830 AM (Spanish), WVUM 90.5 FM Friday - WVUM 90.5 FM Saturday - WVUM 90.5 FMINTERNET: Audio broadcast through www.hurricanesports.com
