Baseball Game Notes For The FIU Game

Feb. 5, 2001

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University of Miami Hurricanes (3-1-0)
#4 Baseball America, #8 ESPN/Baseball Weekly, #9 Collegiate Baseball
vs.
Florida International University (3-1-0)

February 7, 2001University Park – Miami, FL

Game broadcasted by WACC 830 AM Radio Paz (Spanish) and the student voice of the Hurricanes WVUM 90.5 FM

MIAMI/FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL SERIES — Miami and Florida International have met 95 times dating back to the 1973 season, with the Hurricanes leading the series 78-17. The Miami/FIU series is the third-longest on the UM schedule behind Florida (1940) and Florida State (1951). The Hurricanes hold a modest two-game win streak against the Golden Panthers and have won nine of the past 12 meetings. Head Coach Jim Morris is 17-7 vs. FIU since coming to UM in 1994 and is 5-4 against the Golden Panthers away from Mark Light Stadium.

UM ENDS SLIDE IN GAINESVILLE WITH 14-5 VICTORY — The Hurricanes defeated Florida, 14-5, on the Gators’ opening day at McKethan Stadium-Perry Field on February 3 to end a string of 20 straight wins by the home team in the series. Miami last defeated Florida in Gainesville, 10-2, on February 2, 1995. The nine-run margin of victory was the largest for UM in Gainesville since the 1985 season. Miami was paced in the game by a solid effort from the bullpen and timely hitting by the offense. Following starter Brian Walker’s departure after 3.2 innings, the bullpen allowed just three hits and one run. The UM offense produced a season-best 14 hits and 14 runs. Six UM batters had multiple hits, including Kevin Mannix and Mike DiRosa, who each had three RBI.

FORMER HURRICANE AND CURRENT FLORIDA MARLIN ALEX FERNANDEZ TO THROW OUT FIRST PITCH AGAINST FLORIDA– Former Hurricane star freshman and current Florida Marlins pitcher Alex Fernandez will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Miami/Florida game on Friday, February 9. Fernandez played one season at Miami in 1989 before making his move towards the Major League. After transferring to Miami-Dade South, Fernandez was drafted in the first round by Chicago White Sox. In that one season in 1989, Fernandez compiled a team-best 15-2 record with a 2.01 ERA. With 177 strikeouts , he was named an All-American and College Baseball’s Rookie of the Year. He later won the 1997 World Series with the Marlins. New York Yankees pitcher Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez and Florida Marlins catcher Charles Johnson, who starred at Miami from 1990-92, have also been part of the celebrity first pitch program.

HURRICANES START 2001 WITH SERIES WIN OVER FAU — Miami took its first series of the 2001 season by winning two of three games with Florida Atlantic. With the 2-1 mark against the Owls, Miami moves to 35-6 against FAU since the 1982 season, including wins in 17 of the last 19 meetings. Game #1, Miami 9, FAU 3 — Miami broke a 2-2 tie in the fourth with three runs to take a hold of the game. UM then put the game out of reach in the eighth with four more runs. UM had five extra base hits, led by catcher Mike DiRosa’s home run. Starter Brian Walker earned the win, along with a strong relief effort from Chris Sheffield.

Game #2, FAU 11, Miami 10 — The Owls turned a 10-9 deficit in the ninth into an 11-10 victory in Boca Raton after UM closer Luke DeBold allowed three hits, one walk and two earned runs for the loss. Six lead changes occured in the contest, including a late three-run rally by the Hurricanes to tie the game 9-9 in the eighth.

Game #3, Miami 4, FAU 2 — The Hurricanes never trailed, as starter Tom Farmer earned the victory. Farmer had six strikeouts, along with the save by DeBold and a solid relief effort from Alex Prendes. Kevin Howard had a two-run homer in the third to give UM the winning margin.

FAU WIN GIVES UM 18TH STRAIGHT SERIES WIN — By taking two of three games against Florida Atlantic, with both wins occuring at Mark Light Stadium, UM has now won 18 consecutive three-game series at home and 46th of the last 47 three-game series at the Light. Overall, UM has won its last seven three-game series dating back to the 2000 season.

Since April, 1995, UM has lost a three-game series at home just once when Florida State took two of three games, May 1-3, 1998.

MIAMI IN SEASON OPENERS — Miami holds a 36-21 overall record in season opening games. The Hurricanes defeated FAU, 9-3, in the 2001 season-opener at Mark Light Stadium on February 25. The last loss in a season-opener for the Hurricanes was January 16, 1997, a 3-2 loss at Hawai’i. UM has not lost a season-opener at home since a 9-7 defeat to Florida on February 3, 1984 (14 games).

EL DUQUE AND C.J. HIGHLIGHT OPENING WEEKEND FESTIVITIES — New York Yankees star pitcher Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez and Florida Marlins catcher Charles Johnson, who starred for the Hurricanes from 1990-92, threw out the first pitches for the University of Miami baseball home games against Florida Atlantic last weekend. Hernandez, better known as “El Duque”, has seen three seasons of action with the New York Yankees since defecting from Cuba in 1998. Hernandez was a star pitcher for the Cuban National Team for many seasons before signing as a free agent by the Yankees for the 1998 season.

Charles Johnson made a quick impact at the University of Miami upon his signing with the Hurricanes in 1989. Johnson, a first round draft pick and 10th overall selection of the Montreal Expos, forgo professional baseball to play with the Hurricanes. In his rookie season at UM, Johnson tied the freshman home run record with 11 to earn a selection to both the Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball newspaper Freshman All-America teams. Johnson eventually concluded his tenure at Miami as a three-year letterman and a two-time Golden Spikes Award finalist. In his final season with UM in 1992, Johnson was named a First-Team All-American by The Sporting News. Upon leaving Miami in 1992, Johnson was once again drafted in the first round by his hometown Florida Marlins, but not before playing with the United States National Team at the Barcelona Olympics.

RODRIGUEZ, HOWARD EARN BASEBALL AMERICA PRESEASON THIRD-TEAM HONORS — Junior centerfielder Mike Rodriguez and sophomore third baseman Kevin Howard were each named to the Baseball America 2001 Preseaosn Third-Team All-America list, as selected by the Major League Scouting Directors. Rodriguez was last a freshman all-american two seasons ago, while Howard was arguably the highest decorated freshman player in the nation last season. Howard was the Baseball America National Freshman of the Year as well as first-team freshman All-American.

WALKER EARN NCBWA PRESEASON THIRD-TEAM HONORS — Junior ace Brian Walker was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writer’s Association preseason third-team. Walker led the pitching staff in 2000 with a 12-2 record at the No. 2 position in the rotation.

WALKER, HOWARD EARN BASEBALL AMERICA PRESEASON THIRD-TEAM HONORS — Junior ace Brian Walker and sophomore third baseman Kevin Howard were each named to Collegiate Baseball’s TPX Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American third-team. Howard was the Co-Freshman of the Year by Collegiate Baseball in 2000.

BASEBALL AMERICA RANKS MIAMI FOURTH IN PRESEASON POLL — The Hurricanes were ranked fourth in Baseball America’s annual preseason top 25 poll. UM was selected behind Georgia Tech, Southern California and Louisiana State. Of Miami’s 56 regular season games, UM play 17 or 30.4% of its schedule against team’s ranked in Baseball America’s preseason top 25 poll (#7 FSU, 6, #13 Florida, 4, #15 Cal State Fullerton, 3, #23 East Carolina, 3, #24 Minnesota, 1).

BASEBALL WEEKLY/ESPN RANKS MIAMI EIGHTH IN PRESEASON POLL — The Hurricanes were ranked eighth in Baseball Weekly/ESPN annual preseason top 25 poll. UM was selected behind Georgia Tech, Louisiana State, Southern California, Florida State, Clemson, Arizona State and Nebraska. Of Miami’s 56 regular season games, UM play 12 or 21.4% of its schedule against team’s ranked in the Baseball Weekly/ESPN preseason top 25 poll (#4 FSU, 6, #12 Cal State Fullerton, 3, #14 Florida, 4).

COLLEGIATE BASEBALL RANKS MIAMI NINTH IN PRESEASON POLL — The Hurricanes were ranked ninth in the Collegiate Baseball newspaper annual preseason top 40 poll. UM was selected behind Georgia Tech, Southern California, Louisiana State, Nebraska, Clemson, Arizona State, Rice and Florida State. Of Miami’s 56 regular season games, UM play 22 or 39.3% of its schedule against team’s ranked in the Collegiate Baseball preseason top 40 poll (#8 FSU, 6, #12 Cal State Fullerton, 3, #13 Florida, 4, #30 East Carolina, 3, #31 FIU, 4, #35 Oklahoma State, 1, #39 Minnesota, 1).