Baseball Heads To FSU
April 18, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team (30-10), ranked as high as sixth by Baseball America, heads to Tallahassee this weekend for the second half of its annual six games against state-rival Florida State (33-9) beginning this Friday at Dick Howser Stadium. Game times are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
All three games can be heard on the Internet at hurricanesports.com with the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM on the call. Additionally, the Sunshine Network will televise the Friday and Saturday games.
The Hurricanes enter the Tallahassee series having already won the Coral Gables series, two games to one this past weekend at Mark Light Stadium. The series victory over the Seminoles at home was the third consecutive for Miami over FSU in Coral Gables. After opening up the series with a narrow 10-9 loss to FSU, Miami rebounded with a one-run win of its own, 5-4, on Saturday and a 7-1 victory on Sunday.
The Friday night, 10-9, defeat saw FSU race out to a 7-2 by the third inning, but the Hurricanes rallied with seven unanswered runs to take a 9-7 lead going into the sixth. FSU designated hitter Mike Futrell opened up the inning with a two-run home run off T.J. Prunty to tie the game. Later in the sixth, a Prunty wild pitch followed with an errant throw from Greg Lovelady scored another run, FSU’s 10th run.
On Saturday, Miami tied the series at one-game apiece after scoring five runs over the first 2.0 innings and having its bullpen hold the lead. Danny Matienzo homered in the first, a two-run shot off Matt Lynch, to start the scoring. After manufacturing a run in the top of the second, Charlton Jimerson came up with a two-RBI double for a 5-1 lead by the end of the inning. The bullpen, consisting of Luke DeBold, Alex Prendes and George Huguet, combined to hold FSU to just one hit and three walks with six strikeouts the final 3.2 innings.
An all-around performance landed the Hurricanes the series victory on Sunday after defeating FSU 7-1. Leading 2-1 going into the sixth UM capped off a four-run inning with a three-run home run from Mike DiRosa. The bullpen pitched the final 4.0 innings with two hits, one walk and four strikeouts. UM out-hit FSU, 11-5, while committing zero errors.
UM has lost its last two three-game series in Tallahassee, both last year during the regular season and in the Super Regionals. Prior to those two series defeats, the Hurricanes had won three consecutive three-game series at Dick Howser Stadium.
Miami and Florida State have met 219 times since the 1951 season with the Seminoles leading 115-101-3. Under Head Coach Jim Morris (1994-present), the Hurricanes hold a 29-21 record vs. FSU. The Miami/FSU series is the second-oldest on-going rivalry on the Hurricanes schedule behind the Florida series (1940), but UM and FSU have played the most games.
The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association ranked the Seminoles, who play at Jacksonville Wednesday night, as high as No. 2 in their most recent poll. Additionally, FSU is ranked No. 3 in the Baseball Weekly/ESPN Coaches’ Poll, No. 4 in Collegiate Baseball and No. 7 in Baseball America.
On the mound for the Hurricanes Friday night will be right-hander Kiki Bengochea (6-2, 3.56 ERA). The sophomore from Miami leads the team in innings pitched (68.1) and strikeouts (62). The former third-round pick of the Kansas City Royals will be making his fourth appearance as UM’s No. 1 pitcher on Friday. Last weekend against FSU, he took a no-decision with 3.0 innings pitched with seven hits, seven earned runs, two walks and three strikeouts.
Following Bengochea, will be left-hander Brian Walker (8-1, 3.47 ERA) on Saturday. The junior and former Pittsburgh Pirates draft pick is tied for the team lead with his eight wins and also has a school-record 12 pick-offs. Walker owns the school-record for single-game pick-off (3, twice), single-season (12) and career (23). Last weekend against the Seminoles, Walker scored his eighth win with 5.1 innings pitched, six hits, four runs (three earned), four walks and five strikeouts.
Senior Tom Farmer (8-2, 3.94 ERA) rounds out the starting rotation on Sunday. Farmer is tied with Walker for the team-high in wins (8) and places second with his 64.0 innings pitched. Last weekend against Florida State he pitched 5.0 innings with three singles, one earned run, one walk and two strikeouts.
Offensively for the series, UM was led by second baseman Kris Clute’s .583 batting average, followed by Kevin Howard (.545) and Kevin Brown (.400). Clute batted 7-for-12 against FSU with a run scored, a double and two RBI. Howard went 6-for-11 with a team-best six runs scored, two doubles and two walks. Brown was 4-for-10 with two runs scored, one home run, three RBI and three walks.
For the season, UM is led by Javy Rodriguez’ .389 batting average, followed by Marcus Nettles (.354) and Howard (.335).
In addition to his team-high batting average, Rodriguez leads the team in slugging percentage (.562), hits (56), RBI (41), total bases (81) and stolen bases (37). Nettles leads the team with 34 runs scored and places second in on-base percentage (.479), walks (23) and stolen bases (27). Howard places second on the team with 53 hits and 75 total bases.
Miami returns to action at Mark Light Stadium, April 27-29, in a three-game series against Virginia. Game times are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
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.
