Baseball Host #20 East Carolina This Weekend
March 15, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team (19-5), ranked as high as seventh by Baseball America and ESPN/Baseball Weekly Coaches’ Poll, host 20th-ranked East Carolina for a three-game series beginning this Friday at Mark Light Stadium. Game times are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
All three games can be heard over the radio at the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM, as well as on the Internet at UM’s official athletics website hurricanesports.com. The Friday and Sunday contests will be also be carried on UM’s Spanish Broadcast Network at WACC 830 AM Radio Paz. Additionally, the Sunday game will be televised live on Fox Sports Net Florida.
The Miami and East Carolina series is tied at one game apiece. The Pirates took the last meeting, during the 1999 season, 6-5, in Coral Gables. Miami won the first meeting between the two schools, 6-4, in the 1984 NCAA Regional in Tallahassee.
Miami is coming off a two-game sweep of South Florida in Tampa this past Tuesday and Wednesday. Kevin Howard, Mike Rodriguez and Marcus Nettles in the two victories over the Bulls led the Hurricanes. Howard batted .750 for the series going 6-for-8 with four runs scored, two doubles, one home run and three RBI. Both Rodriguez and Nettles batted .444 in the two games against USF. Each went 4-for-9 with three RBI and two walks. Combined, Rodriguez and Nettles stole nine bases.
On the mound for the Hurricanes Friday night will be junior left-hander Brian Walker (5-0, 2.90 ERA). Walker last earned a win in UM’s 10-1 win over Minnesota on the second day of the Hormel Foods Classic at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. His victory over the Golden Gophers was his 12th consecutive dating back to the 2000 season. He took a no-decision in his start against Rutgers last weekend.
Following Walker, on Saturday, will be sophomore right-hander Kiki Bengochea (4-0, 1.59 ERA) and on Sunday, senior right-hander Tom Farmer (4-1, 3.41 ERA). Bengochea, who last defeated Rutgers on March 3, leads all starters with his 1.59 ERA and has a team-best 34 strikeouts. Farmer lost in his last appearance in game No. 3 against Rutgers.
Offensively, UM is led by Javy Rodriguez’ .404 batting average. He also has a team-best 36 hits, 31 RBI, two triples, 52 total bases, eight sacrifice hits and 25 stolen bases. Nettles is close behind with a .390 batting average and 17 stolen bases.
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.
