Baseball Takes On The Gators
Feb. 1, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team (2-1), ranked as high as fourth nationally by Baseball America, travels to Gainesville this Saturday and Sunday for a two-game series with the 13th-ranked Florida Gators at McKethan Stadium-Perry Field. Game times are scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The Gators will be making their 2001 season-opening debut, while the Hurricanes defeated Florida Atlantic two of three games last weekend. All three games will be broadcast on the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM. Saturday’s game will be televised on the Sunshine Network.
On the mound for the Hurricanes will be junior left-hander Brian Walker (1-0, 1.80 ERA) on Saturday and sophomore right-hander Kiki Bengochea (0-0, 3.60 ERA) on Sunday. Florida will be throwing junior right-hander Joey Simon on Saturday and junior right-hander Jay Belflower on Sunday.
Walker earned the victory in the Hurricanes’ season-opener against FAU on Thursday, January 25 with a pre-game determined 5.0 innings pitched, three hits, one earned run, one walk and three strikeouts in UM’s 9-3 victory. Bengochea took a no-decision in UM’s 11-10 loss to FAU on Friday, January 26, leaving the game after 5.0 innings pitched and the score tied 5-5. He allowed four hits, two earned runs, no walks and five strikeouts.
Following the three games with the Owls, UM is led by freshman Haas Pratt’s .600 batting average. Pratt, who started the third game against FAU at first base, has three hits in five at bats with two RBI. Second on the team in the batting average column is 2000 National Freshman of the Year Kevin Howard, who has a .417 average in three starts. Howard has three runs scored, a home run, a double and three RBI. Junior catcher Mike DiRosa places third with a .375 batting average, while sophomore designated hitter Danny Matienzo has a .333 batting average.
The Miami/Florida series is the longest on-going series on the Hurricanes’ schedule. Only Miami and Florida State have met more times (214), since the 1951 season. Miami leads the all-time series with Florida 103-80-1 since the 1940 season, but are 35-52-1 in Gainesville. The Gators have won their last 10 meetings with the Hurricanes in Gainesville, dating back to the 1996 season. UM’s last win at Florida was the second of two games, 10-2, on February 5, 1995. Additionally, the Hurricanes have defeated Florida in their last 10 meetings in Coral Gables, as well.
Since the 1994 season, UM Head Coach Jim Morris has gone 16-14 against the Gators. Of that record, Morris’ Hurricane teams have gone 14-2 against UF in Coral Gables.
The Hurricanes return to Mark Light Stadium for the second two games against the Gators on Friday and Saturday, February 9-10. Both games are scheduled for a 7 p.m. start and are to be televised by Fox Sports Net Florida. WACC 830 AM Radio Paz will carry both home games against the Gators, as well as on WVUM 90.5 FM.
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 (2-1) at University of Florida (0-0)WHEN: 1 p.m. on Saturday, 1:30 p.m. on SundayWHERE: McKethan Stadium-Perry Field on the Florida campusRADIO: Saturday - WVUM 90.5 FM (Radio), Sunshine Network (TV) Sunday - WVUM 90.5 FMINTERNET: Audio broadcast through www.hurricanesports.com
