Baseball Takes On The Huskies
March 23, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team (22-6), ranked as high as sixth by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball, host Northeastern (2-4) for a three-game series beginning this Friday through Sunday 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. Saturday’s game will be also be carried on UM’s flagship station Sports Radio 560 WQAM and televised by Fox Sports Net Florida. The Friday and Saturday contests will be broadcast on UM’s Spanish Broadcast Network at WACC 830 AM Radio Paz.
Miami leads the all-time series with Northeastern, 6-0, with all games played at Mark Light Stadium. The two teams have not met on the diamond since a 12-4 UM victory during Head Coach Jim Morris’ second season in Coral Gables in 1995. Miami also won a 2-0 decision during Morris’ first season at UM in 1994. UM also swept the Huskies in a three-game series during the 1991 season with scores of 8-1, 17-4 and 9-3. The first meeting between Miami and Northeastern resulted in a 12-1 UM win in 1990.
Miami is coming off a mid-week victory over Cornell, 2-1, in 10 innings on Wednesday. With bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th, pinch-hitter Jim Burt hit a walk-off single to right field to score Javy Rodriguez from third for the game winning run. Right-hander Chris Sheffield had arguably one of the best outings by a UM starter this season, pitching a career-high 7.0 innings (108 pitches) with a team-season-best 11 strikeouts. He allowed a season-low by a starter two hits with just one earned run, with three walks. Reliever Andrew Cohn earned his first collegiate victory, retiring the final Cornell batter in the top half of the 10th inning.
On the mound for the Hurricanes Friday night will be left-hander Brian Walker (6-0, 2.85 ERA). Walker last earned a win in UM’s 14-13 win over then-#20 East Carolina last Friday at Mark Light. His victory over the Pirates was his 13th consecutive dating back to the 2000 season. Listed in nearly every top five category for pitchers, Walker has a single-season record 11 pick-offs, plus two games with a school-record three pick-offs in each contest.
Following Walker, on Saturday, will be right-hander Kiki Bengochea (4-1, 1.94 ERA) and on Sunday, right-hander Tom Farmer (5-1, 3.73 ERA). Bengochea, who last defeated nationally ranked Rutgers on March 3, leads all starters with his 1.94 ERA and places second on the staff with 39 strikeouts. Farmer assisted the Hurricanes to the series victory over ECU last Sunday, pitching the first 6.2 innings while UM built a 6-1 lead in an eventual 8-4 win.
Offensively, UM is led by Marcus Nettles’ .397 batting average, followed by Javy Rodriguez (.374) and Kevin Howard (.360). Nettles also leads the team with his .511 on-base percentage and places second with 23 runs scored and 19 stolen bases. Rodriguez leads the club with 32 RBI and a career-high 28 stolen bases. He is tied with Howard for a club-best 40 hits, while Howard also has a UM high 59 total 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.
