Top-Ranked Hurricanes Host New York Tech
May 17, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team (41-12), the nation’s No. 1-ranked team in the Baseball America, Baseball Weekly/ESPN and NCBWA polls, close out the 2001 regular season in a three-game series vs. New York Tech (19-27-1), beginning Friday night at Mark Light Stadium. Game times are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
All three games will be broadcast on the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM, as well as on the Internet at hurricanesports.com. Additionally, all three games will be picked up by UM’s Spanish Broadcast Network on WACC 830 AM Radio Paz with Jerry del Castillo and Pepe Campos.
On Friday night at the Sugarcanes counter near the front entrance, pick up an Arnold Novins Memorial Award ballot to nominate the your Most Popular Hurricane Player of the Year as voted on by the fans. Take the time to write the player’s name and give it back to the Sugarcane to be counted. Saturday night will feature a pre-game ceremony honoring the Class of 2001. The Class of 2001 features Kevin Brown (Finance), Kris Clute (Criminology), Tom Farmer (Finance), Charlton Jimerson (Computer Science), Greg Lovelady (Finance), Alex Prendes (Business Management) and Ethan Silverman (Sports Administration). Brown, Jimerson, Lovelady and Silverman recently received their degrees walking across the stage as part of spring commencement.
The Hurricanes enter the New York Tech series having defeated swept Florida Southern in a three-game series last weekend. On Monday, the NCAA also announced the UM was one of 16 host-site for the upcoming NCAA Regional tournaments, May 25-27. Later that day, UM moved to the top spot in the Baseball America poll for the first time in 2001. Overall, Miami has won 16 of its last 19 games and is currently on a five-game win streak.
The Hurricanes also hold the No. 2 spot in the Collegiate Baseball newspaper poll.
Miami has defeated New York Tech in all seven meetings between the two schools since the 1978 season. Last season, UM swept the Bears in the final regular season three-game series at Mark Light Stadium. Prior to the 2000 campaign, UM won two over New York Tech, 12-3 and 20-0, during the 1999 National Championship season. The two teams first met in 1978 with UM sweeping a double-header 7-1 and 6-5.
New York Tech enters the series on a season-best three-game win streak. Most recently, the Bears swept two games at Stony Brook, 11-4 and 10-1. Prior to that game, New York Tech had no trouble with Binghamton at home, 25-9. The Bears are led offensively by Rick Mundy’s .398 batting average, followed by Brian Goelz (.383). New York Tech has a total of seven batters hitting over .300. Ryan Nevins leads the team with 13 home runs, while Goelz has a club-best 74 hits.
Junior shortstop Javy Rodriguez continues to lead the Hurricanes in 2001 with his .383 batting average, as well as team-best numbers in hits (74), RBI (49), slugging percentage (.544), triples (3), total bases (105) and stolen bases (50). The Gulliver Prep graduate also leads the nation with his 0.98 stolen base per-game average.
For the season, UM is led by Javy Rodriguez’ .383 batting average, followed by Kevin Howard (.329) and Marcus Nettles (.321). Howard currently leads the team with 15 doubles, while holding the second-most hits (68) and total bases (94). Nettles has the second-most walks (34) and stolen bases (40) and leads the team with a .472 on-base percentage.
Freshman closer George Huguet is tied for third in the NCAA rankings with his 12 saves in 2001. Huguet ranks among the all-time best in school history moving into seventh-place with his 12th save last weekend. With the save he moved out of a tie with Mike Browning (1981) and Mike Gibbons (1986-87).
On the mound for the Hurricanes Friday night will be right-hander Kiki Bengochea (7-4, 3.48 ERA). The sophomore from Miami leads the team in innings pitched (95.2) and strikeouts (81). The former third-round pick of the Kansas City Royals was recently invited back to the USA Baseball Trials. Last summer, Bengochea earned a 3-0 record and 0.00 ERA for Team USA.
Following Bengochea, will be left-hander Brian Walker (10-1, 3.28 ERA) on Saturday. The junior and former Pittsburgh Pirates draft pick is second on the team with 10 wins and also has a school-record 13 pick-offs. Walker owns the school-record for single-game pick-off (3, twice), single-season (13) and career (24).
Senior Tom Farmer (11-2, 3.58 ERA) rounds out the starting rotation on Sunday. Farmer leads the team in wins (11) and is ranked 16th nationally in pitching victories.
After the New York Tech series, UM will return to action the following weekend as its hosts its fifth consecutive NCAA Regional and 18th overall. UM has made 30 postseason appearances overall and a NCAA-record 29th consecutive.
Call 1-800-GO-CANES for ticket information regarding the upcoming NCAA Regional. 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.
