Baseball Adds Stetson To 2001 Schedule
April 5, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team will add a home game with Stetson University on Monday, April 30th at 7 p.m. at Mark Light Stadium.
The Hurricanes were able to add the Hatters to the 2001 schedule after the second game at the University of Florida was cancelled due to poor field conditions brough on by inclement weather earlier this season.
Stetson is enjoying arguably its best season of college baseball in 2001. The Hatters, as of April 2nd, had jumped three spots to 7th in the Collegiate Baseball Top 30 poll. The ranking is the Hatters’ highest in the program’s history, surpassing the No. 9 ranking achieved during the 1984 season.
Stetson remained 23rd in Baseball America and moved up one spot to 17th in the ESPN/Baseball Weekly Coaches Poll.
At 25-4 overall on April 2nd, Stetson’s owned the nation’s best record and winning percentage (.862). The Hatters also led the Trans America Athletic Conference with an 8-1 league mark.
The Hatters feature one of the most potent pitchers in all of college baseball in junior left-hander Lenny Dinardo, a 2001 preseason First-Team All-American by Baseball America. DiNardo enjoyed a stellar sophomore season, going 16-1 with a 1.90 ERA. His 16 wins ranked second nationlly and set a school record, while his 1.90 ERA was sixth-lowest nationally and the lowest by a Stetson pitcher since 1974. He struck out a school-record 132 batters and walked just 27 in 132.2 innings. DiNardo completed the campaign on a 13-game winning streak.
A projected first round draft pick next June, DiNardo also teamed with UM star pitcher Kiki Bengochea on Team USA’s National Team last summer. The two pitchers were each a major factor in the Team USA’s all-time lowest team ERA as well as claiming the Honkbal Tournament Championship to end the summer duty.
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.
