Baseball Hosts Florida This Weekend
Feb. 7, 2002
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team (2-2) hosts the University of Florida (3-0) for a three-game series at Mark Light Stadium beginning this Friday at 7 p.m. The Hurricanes and Gators continue the three-game series on Saturday at 7 p.m. and conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Friday and Sunday games will be televised live by Fox Sports Net Florida.
The Saturday night Florida game will be highlighted by the return of former Hurricane All-American and current Florida Marlins catcher Charles Johnson. Johnson will have his Miami jersey number 23 retired on the outfield wall as well as throw out the games’ ceremonial first pitch.
The Friday night game will also be carried on UM’s flagship station Sports Radio 560 WQAM, as well as the Spanish Broadcast Network on WACC 830 AM Radio Paz. The student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM, will carry all three games.
Miami enters the Florida series having won 13 straight over the Gators at Mark Light Stadium since 1996. Last season, UM swept two games during the regular season and one in during the Coral Gables Regional. Last season’s series sweep over Florida, UM also won the one game played in Gainesville, was the first for the Hurricanes since 1991.
This weekend’s three games marks Nos. 189-191 in the all-time series that dates back to 1940 and Nos. 97-99 played at Miami. The Florida series is the longest on-going series on the Hurricanes’ schedule. Only Miami and Florida State have met more times (220), since the 1951 season. The Hurricanes lead the all-time series with the Gators 107-80-1, including a 68-28 mark in Coral Gables. Since the 1994 season, Jim Morris has gone 20-14 against the Gators, including a 17-2 mark in Coral Gables.
On the mound for the Hurricanes Friday night will be junior right-hander Troy Roberson (0-0, 2.08 ERA) with junior RHP Kiki Bengochea (0-1, 10.12 ERA) on Saturday and sophomore RHP T.J. Prunty (0-0, 8.10 ERA) on Sunday. Florida will be throwing senior LHP Keith Ramsey (1-0, 1.80 ERA) on Friday, junior RHP Alex Hart (1-0, 0.00 ERA) on Saturday and senior LHP Jimmy Ramshaw on Sunday.
Offensively, the Hurricanes are led by senior All-American shortstop Javy Rodriguez, who his batting .562 heading into the series with three stolen bases. Freshman centerfielder Danny Figueroa is second on the team in hitting with a .357 batting average.
Florida enters the series having defeated Mercer, 11-7, in Gainesville on Wednesday. Last weekend, the Gators swept two games with Charleston Southern, 25-1 and 12-2, to open the 2002 season.
Call 1-800-GO-CANES for season and individual game ticket information or check out UM’s official athletic website, www.hurricanesports.com, for updated information regarding the baseball team.
