Baseball Hosts Elon College In Three-Game Series
Feb. 15, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team (6-2), ranked as high as fourth nationally by Baseball America, host Elon College (5-1) in a three-game series this weekend, February 16-18, at Mark Light Stadium. Game times are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, followed by 1 p.m. start times on Saturday and Sunday. Miami head coach Jim Morris graduated from Elon in 1973, with the schools’ baseball offices named in his honor.
Former Hurricane All-American pitcher and Houston Astros prospect J.D. Arteaga will throw out the ceremonial pitch at Friday’s game, just prior to reporting to Spring Training on Sunday.
Sunday’s game will carried by UM’s flagship station Sports Radio 560 WQAM with “The Voice of the Hurricanes” Marc Vandermeer and longtime analyst Joe Zagacki on the call. Friday and Sunday will also be carried on the Hurricanes’ Spanish Broadcasting Network WACC 830 AM Radio Paz with Jerry del Castillo and Pepe Campos covering the action. The student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM will carry all three games over the weekend. The Miami/Elon games can be heard on the Internet as well, at www.hurricanesports.com.
Miami leads Elon College in the all-time series 2-1 having played the Phoenix in a three-game series at Mark Light Stadium during UM’s 1999 National Championship season. Elon handed UM ace Alex Santos his lone loss of the season in a 13-6 decision. Santos finished the 1999 season 15-1, which led the nation and earned him First-Team All-American honors. Miami took the second two games, 11-0 and 24-5, to win the series.
On the mound for the Hurricanes will be junior left-hander Brian Walker (2-0, 3.95 ERA) on Friday, sophomore right-hander Kiki Bengochea (1-0, 3.48 ERA) on Saturday and senior right-hander Tom Farmer (1-0, 5.91 ERA) on Sunday. Elon College will be throwing junior left-hander Brad Pinkerton (1-0, 4.50 ERA) on Friday, junior left-hander Whit Bryant (1-0, 2.45 ERA) on Saturday and junior right-hander Scott Light (1-0, 3.18 ERA) on Sunday.
Walker last earned a victory in his last appearance against #13 Florida on February 9, with 5.0 innings pitched, eight hits, three earned runs, one walk and two strikeouts in a 10-4 UM victory. Bengochea last pitched at FIU on February 7, earning the win with 5.1 innings pitched, one hit, two earned runs, three walks and three strikeouts in a 4-3 decision. Farmer took a no-decision in his last appearance in Miami’s 8-7 win over the Gators on February 10. He pitched 4.2 innings with five hits, five earned runs, four walks and two strikeouts.
After the first eight games of the season, UM is led by sophomore designated hitter Danny Matienzo’s .393 batting average, as well as a .679 slugging percentage and 19 total bases. Lead-off batter and one of Baseball America’s top 100 college prospects Marcus Nettles places second with a .379 batting average. Matienzo and Nettles are each tied for the team-high with 11 hits.
The Hurricanes return to action on Wednesday, February 21 in the first of three games with cross-town rival FIU at 7 p.m. at Mark Light Stadium. Miami and the Golden Panthers then meet in consecutive days, February 23-24, at the Homestead Sports Complex as the feature games in the 2001 Homestead Challenge.
Call 1-800-GO-CANES for season and individual game ticket information. To join the excitement, log on to hurricanesports.com and become a member of Hurricane Watch, the on-line loyalty program that allows you to purchase tickets on-line, transfer tickets to friends via email and earn Hurricane rewards for each game you attend at the Light.
SERIES INFORMATION:
WHAT: Elon College (5-1) at University of Miami (6-2)
WHEN: Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.
WHERE: Mark Light Stadium, Coral Gables, FL
TELEVISION: Fox Sports Net Florida on Sunday
RADIO: Sunday on Sports Radio 560 WQAM, Friday and Sunday on WACC 830 AM Radio Paz (Spanish) and all three nights on WVUM 90.5 FM
INTERNET: Audio broadcast through www.hurricanesports.com
