Hurricanes Visit Tar Heels For Weekend Set
April 25, 2002
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University of Miami Hurricanes (21-19)
vs.
University of North Carolina Tar Heels (30-14)
#9 Collegiate Baseball, #19 Baseball America, #23 Baseball Weekly/ESPN and #24 NCBWA
Friday: 7:00 p.m. – WVUM 90.5 FM
Saturday: 7:00 p.m. – WVUM 90.5 FM
Sunday: 1:00 p.m. – WVUM 90.5 FM
Game #41-43: April 26-28, 2002, Boshamer Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
Audio Broadcasts
MIAMI VS. NORTH CAROLINA — Miami and North Carolina have met 19 previous times since the 1976 season with the Hurricanes holding a 13-6 advantage in the all-time series. Under Head Coach Jim Morris, who was born and raised in North Carolina, the Hurricanes are 6-2 against the Tar Heels since his first season at UM in 1994. In the four meetings with UNC in Chapel Hill, the Hurricanes are 2-2 with a three-game series victory in 1987 under Head Coach Ron Fraser. In Morris’ 12 seasons at Georgia Tech (1982-93), his Yellow Jackets went 20-17 against UNC, including a 6-9 mark on the road.
In the most recent meeting between the two teams, UNC got the best of Miami in a 9-0 shutout during play at the 2000 ACC/Disney Baseball Blast in Orlando, FL.
Prior to that loss, UM and UNC split a pair of meetings (L 6-5, W 7-4) with at the 1998 Atlantic I Regional in Coral Gables. The second game, (W, 7-4), was for a spot in the College World Series.
MIAMI COACH JIM MORRIS HAS STRONG NORTH CAROLINA TIES — Head Coach Jim Morris, who is in his ninth season with Miami, was born in Lexington. He attended and played baseball at Ben L. Smith in Greensboro. Morris went on to play at Brevard Community College before transferring to Elon for his final three seasons. Even after getting picked by the Boston Red Sox following college he played at the Red Sox’ Winston-Salem single A affiliate. As a coach, Morris started as a graduate assistant coach at Appalachian State in Boone.
VS. THE ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE — Miami has forged an all-time record of 192-159-6 (.546) against teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Under Jim Morris, Miami is 67-38 (.638) vs. the ACC since 1994. Subtract the annual six-game series with the Seminoles and UM is 34-12 against the ACC.
HURRICANES, MORRIS AND THE ACC — Since Jim Morris’ arrival in Miami in 1994, no other conference has had so many of its members on the UM schedule year after year than the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Morris’ UM teams have played multiple three-game series against the ACC in each season he has been at Miami. Additionally, in five of the past six years Miami has played at least four three-game series vs. the ACC.
MIAMI AND NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOLS — Since 1967’s first meeting with Duke (W, 3-0), Miami has forged a 48-20 (.706) record against schools from the state of North Carolina.
The list of opponents include Appalachian State (1-0), Davidson (1-1), Duke (5-2), East Carolina (3-2), Elon (6-3), UNC-Chapel Hill (13-6), N.C. State (8-4), Wake Forest (7-1) and Western Carolina (4-1).
Miami has played 18 games on the road in North Carolina compiling a 10-8 record, including a 5-4 mark in Chapel Hill against UNC (2-2), N.C. State (1-1), Clemson (1-0), Arizona (1-0) and Wake Forest (0-1).
MIAMI AND THE PSEUDO-RPI — Following games of April 21, Miami finds itself ranked 36th in Boyd’s World pseudo-RPI listing. The Hurricanes have two top-five opponents in Houston (#4) and Georgia Tech (#5), while 14 are rated among the top 57.
JAVY RODRIGUEZ LISTED THROUGHOUT MIAMI CAREER RECORDS — Senior All-American Javy Rodriguez has etched his name on numerous Miami career record lists, including at bats, runs scored, hits, total bases, total sacrifices and stolen bases.
KEVIN HOWARD’S DOUBLE AT FSU LIFTS HIM TO THIRD PLACE — Kevin Howard’s one double during the Long Beach State series allowed him to move into third-place by himself with 56 career doubles. He was tied with Don Rowland (55, 1982-85). Jose Trujillo (1986-89) holds the school-record with 65 doubles. Howard has 14 doubles in 2002 and had 20 in 2001 and 22 in 2000.
GEORGE HUGUET IN FIFTH-PLACE FOR CAREER SAVES — Sophomore George Huguet earned a save vs. FAU to give him 21 for his career, which places fifth all-time at Miami. Rick Raether (84-86) holds the school-record with 37 career saves. Jay Tessmer (94-95) is in fourth-place with 23 saves.
FIVE HURRICANES LISTED ON SMITH AWARD WATCH LIST — Five Hurricanes, including Kiki Bengochea, Jim Burt, Kevin Howard, George Huguet and Javy Rodriguez, are listed among the candidates for the 15th annual Rotary Smith Award.
MIAMI WINS SERIES WITH NO. 13 LONG BEACH STATE — The Hurricanes won the first two games of a three-game series, April 19-21, with No. 13 Long Beach State at Mark Light Stadium. Miami picked up 9-6 and 10-6 wins on Friday and Saturday night, respectively, while the 49ers won on Sunday, 10-1, to avoid the sweep.
Series Highlights —
Kevin Howard’s walk-off homer gives UM a 9-6 win in game one — Kevin Howard hit a walk-off three-run home run in the ninth to elevate Miami past Long Beach State, 9-6, on Friday. The 49ers had fought back twice in the game to tie the Hurricanes, 4-4, in the fifth and, 6-6, in the eighth. Howard was the leader in the game batting 4-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored and three RBI. Haas Pratt also homered for the Hurricanes in the second inning. Closer George Huguet won in relief shutting down the 49ers over the final 2.0 innings.
UM offense strikes early in game two win 10-6 — Javy Rodriguez and Danny Figueroa each had three hits, while Danny Matienzo put in four RBI in leading Miami past Long Beach State, 10-6, Saturday night. Rodriguez homered in the game while going 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two RBI, one walk and a stolen base. Danny Figueroa had three runs scored, while brother, Paco, had two. Matienzo had just one hit, a two RBI single inthe eighth, but earned RBI with a first-inning sacrifice fly and a fielder’s choice RBI in the sixth. Kiki Bengochea earned the win with a pre-game determined 4.0 innings pitched. He was followed by usual starter T.J. Prunty, who went 3.1 innings.
MIAMI PULLS OFF 6-5 RALLY WIN OVER NO. 17 FLORIDA ATLANTIC — Miami put together a five-run seventh vs. No. 17 FAU, including Javy Rodriguez’ steal at home plate for the go-ahead run, in a 6-5 rally win over the Blue Wave Wednesday night at Mark Light Stadium.
FAU built a 5-1 lead through six innings behind starter Chris Pillsbury, but it evaporated in the seventh as the Blue Wave needed to use three pitchers to hold off Miami. Reliever Chris Della Rocco, who would eventually take the loss, gave up two hits, five runs (two earned) and two walks in 0.2 innings of relief in the seventh.
UM starter T.J. Prunty earned the win after he tied a career-long with 7.0 innings pitched and posted a career-high seven strikeouts. Closer George Huguet scored his seventh save of the season as he went the final 2.0 innings with no hits and a career-high four strikeouts.
UM scored the five runs in the seventh off two RBI singles, a FAU throwing error, a passed ball and a steal at home plate.
