Hurricanes Renew Florida Rivalry
Feb. 7, 2002
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
University of Miami Hurricanes (2-2)
#2 Baseball Weekly/ESPN, #3 Baseball America, #5 NCBWA, and #7 Collegiate Baseball
vs.
University of Florida Gators (3-0)
#16 NCBWA, #23 Baseball Weekly/ESPN and #23 Collegiate Baseball
Friday: FSN (TV), WQAM, WACC (Spanish), WVUM
Saturday: WVUM
Sunday: FSN (TV), WVUM
Game #5-7, February 8-10, 2002
Mark Light Stadium – Coral Gables, FL
GATORS COME TO TOWN — 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.
MIAMI VS. THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE — The Hurricanes enter the Florida series with an all-time record of 166-115-1 against SEC teams. Under Head Coach Jim Morris, Miami is 34-21 vs. the SEC since 1994. The Hurricanes have won nine of the last 10 games played against SEC over the past two seasons.
MIAMI FALLS AT FIU 7-1 — In the first of three games to be played in 2002, FIU came away with a 7-1 win led by starter Josh Banks (a career-best 11 strikeouts). FIU out-hit Miami 13-6 and scored three runs in the first and seventh innings to hold off the Hurricanes. Miami will next face FIU at the Homestead Challenge on Feb. 2, followed by a game at Mark Light Stadium on May 2.
Miami leads the all-time series with FIU, 81-19, dating back to the 1973 season. The series is the third-longest on-going rivalry on the UM baseball schedule behind Florida (1940) and Florida State (1951).
Miami has won 12 of the past 17 meetings with FIU, including five of the past seven. Last season, Miami took three of four meetings. Head Coach Jim Morris is 20-9 vs. FIU since coming to Miami in 1994.
In the game, Luke DeBold’s appearance moved him into a fourth-place tie with Rick Raether (1984-86) with 91 career appearances in relief. Javy Rodriguez recorded his 101st stolen base.
MIAMI VS. THE SUN BELT — Miami has forged an all-time record of 117-36 against teams currently in the Sun Belt Conference.
HURRICANES OPEN 2002 WITH SERIES WIN OVER TENNESSEE — Miami won two of three games against Tennessee during the season opening weekend at Mark Light Stadium to move to 8-5 all-time against the Volunteers. Miami opened the season with a 5-4 victory over UT to move to 38-21 all-time in season-openers. UT pulled out a 7-4 win on Saturday evening to even up the weekend series. In the deciding game on Sunday, UM rallied with eight runs over the seventh and eighth innings for the 9-4 win.
Miami 5, Tennessee 4 – After a near-two-year absence due to injury Troy Roberson earned the opening day start for the Hurricanes on the mound. Roberson pitched 4.1 innings with one earned run along with five strikeouts. UM broke open the game with a four-run fourth inning, while the bullpen, led by Vince Vazquez, held on to the win. Matt Dryer had a two-RBI hit in the fourth to pace the offense.
Tennessee 7, Miami 4 – Tennessee scored four runs in the third inning to take control of the game from UM starter Kiki Bengochea.
Miami 9, Tennessee 4 – Tennessee jumped out to a 4-1 lead and held on to it until Kevin Mannix and Matt Dryer hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning. Miami scored six runs in the eighth inning on four UT pitchers. Kevin Howard, who had three RBI including the eventual game-winning hit, also had two putouts and an assist on a rare triple play during the UT sixth. Freshman Greg Dini also had a three-RBI single during the eighth.
KEVIN HOWARD PUT TOGETHER FIRST TRIPLE PLAY IN 20 YEARS IN SUNDAY TENNESSEE GAME – During the sixth inning with bases loaded and no outs, UT’s Ryan Moffett lined-out at third baseman Kevin Howard (first out). Howard stepped on third base to force Javi Herrera out (#2) and the threw to first to force out Hal Bibee (#3). It was the first triple play at Miami since a 1982 game against Lewis College. Additionally, it was just the fifth triple play ever recorded at Miami and first ever in Head Coach Jim Morris’ career.
MIAMI IN SEASON OPENERS — Miami holds a 38-21 overall record in season opening games. The Hurricanes defeated Tennessee, 5-4, in the 2002 season-opener on Feb. 1. The last loss in a season-opener for the Hurricanes was Jan. 16, 1997, a 3-2 loss at Hawaii. UM has not lost a season-opener at home since a 9-7 defeat to Florida on Feb. 3, 1984 (15 games).
SEVERAL HURRICANES GARNER PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA HONORS — A total of five Hurricanes received preseason All-American honors, including Javy Rodriguez, Kiki Bengochea, George Huguet, Luke DeBold and Danny Matienzo.
BASEBALL AMERICA’S COLLEGE PREVIEW RECOGNIZES MIAMI — Baseball America’s Allen Simpson rated junior RHP Kiki Bengochea No. 6 among the top 100 college prospects for the 2002 draft. Also making Simpson’s list were Kevin Howard (#23), T.J. Prunty (#56) and Javy Rodriguez (#72).
Baseball America listed the top 50 players by class, which consisted of seven Hurricanes in each of the four classes. Danny Figueroa (#32), Ryan Dixon (#34) and Rich Giannotti (#43) were among the freshmen listed. T.J. Prunty (#30) was the lone UM sophomore listed and was rated the No. 2 draft eligible sophomore. Kiki Bengochea (#6) and Kevin Howard (#22) were among the juniors and Javy Rodriguez (#6) was listed among seniors.
Miami was selected the top independent school heading into 2002, while Bengochea, Howard, Rodriguez, Prunty and Troy Roberson were the top five independent prospects. Figueroa, Dixon and Brandon Camardese were the top three independent newcomers.
