'Canes And Gophers At The Light
Feb. 14, 2002
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University of Miami Hurricanes (2-4)
#7 Baseball America, #12 Baseball Weekly/ESPN, #17 Collegiate Baseball and #18 NCBWA
vs.
University of Minnesota Golden Gophers (0-0)
#35 NCBWA
Friday: FSN (TV), WQAM, WVUM
Saturday: WACC (Spanish), WVUM
Sunday: WVUM
Game #7-9, February 15-17, 2002
Mark Light Stadium – Coral Gables, FL
THE MINNESOTA SERIES — The Hurricanes enter the 2002 series with Minnesota holding an all-time record of 11-3 over the Golden Gophers since the 1981 season.
Most recently, UM swept three games en route to the tournament championship at Minnesota’s Hormel Foods Baseball Classic at the Metrodome in Minneapolis last season. Among the three victories was a 10-1 win over Minnesota in game No. 2. At the Hormel Foods Classic, Miami also defeated San Diego State (8-6) and Arkansas (8-2).
The 2002 three-game series vs. Minnesota will mark the fourth all-time against the Golden Gophers in Coral Gables (1994, 1991, 1989).
MIAMI VS. THE BIG TEN — The Hurricanes are 94-40-5 vs. the Big Ten Conference all-time. Under Jim Morris, the Hurricanes are 20-4-1 vs. the Big Ten since 1994.
LAST SEASON’S MINNESOTA GAME — The Hurricanes defeated Minnesota 10-1 last season in the middle game of the Hormel Foods Baseball Classic at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. Javy Rodriguez was named the tournament’s MVP, while joined by Brian Walker (P), Kevin Howard (3B), Kevin Mannix (OF) and Mike Rodriguez (OF) on the All-Tournament Team. In the Minnesota game, the Hurricanes were led by Javy Rodriguez, who went a perfect 4-for-4 in the game with a run scored and three RBI. Mannix went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI, while Howard went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Walker had one of his best pitching outings of the season going 7.0 innings with three hits, one earned run, two walks and five strikeouts.
FLORIDA SNAGS TWO FROM MIAMI — Florida defeated Miami twice in Coral Gables last weekend 12-9 and 6-2. The losses to UF ended a string of 13 games since 1996 that the Gators had lost at Mark Light Stadium. The middle game of the series was rained out and will not be rescheduled. The pair of wins for UF at Miami was a first since 1956, when the Gators last swept UM at home. The Hurricanes still lead the all-time series with the Gators 107-82-1, including a 68-30 mark in Coral Gables. 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. Since the 1994 season, Jim Morris has gone 20-16 against the Gators, including a 17-4 mark in Coral Gables.
MIAMI VS. THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE — With the two losses to Florida, the Hurricanes move to 166-117-1 against SEC teams all-time. Under Head Coach Jim Morris, Miami is 34-21 vs. the SEC since 1994.
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.
MIAMI VS. THE SUN BELT — Miami has forged an all-time record of 117-36 against teams currently in the Sun Belt Conference.
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.
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 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.
