Baseball Battles Jacksonville At Home This Weekend
May 16, 2002
University of Miami Hurricanes (25-25)
vs. Jacksonville University Dolphins (25-27)
Friday: 7:00 p.m. – WQAM 560 AM, WVUM 90.5 FM
Saturday: 7:00 p.m. – WQAM 560 AM, WVUM 90.5 FM
Sunday: 1:00 p.m. – Fox Sports South, WQAM 560 AM, WVUM 90.5 FM
Game #51-53: May 17-19, 2002; Mark Light Stadium; Coral Gables, Florida
Audio Broadcasts
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
THE MIAMI/JACKSONVILLE SERIES — Miami and Jacksonville have fielded 84 games since 1958, tying for the third-oldest series on the Hurricanes 2002 schedule. Miami met 2002 opponents Jacksonville and Georgia Tech for the first time in 1958, which places behind annual opponents Florida (1940) and Florida State (1955).
Miami holds a 68-16 (.809) advantage over Jacksonville, including a 43-7 (.860) record in Coral Gables and a 25-9 (.735) mark on the road.
During the Jim Morris era (1994-2001), the Hurricanes have gone 18-5 (.783) against the Dolphins overall, 9-2 (.818) at Mark Light Stadium and 9-3 (.750) at Brest Field.
In the most recent span of games since 1993, Miami is 20-6 (.769) vs. JU. Prior to 1993, UM and JU last played in 1986.
LAST SERIES MEETING — May 4-6, 2001 (Mark Light Stadium): Jacksonville defeated Miami, 3-2, in the Friday night series opener, but the Hurricanes rebounded to win the next two games, 13-3 and 6-2, on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
The loss on Friday, May 4, to the Dolphins was the final one for the Hurricanes has they won 17 straight to finish the season culminating in the 2001 National Championship.
The opener saw JU erase a 1-0 Miami lead in the top of the fifth scoring three runs on Kiki Bengochea. UM attempted to answer in the bottom of the fifth loading the bases with no outs for reliever Casey Shumaker, but the eventual Pittsburgh Pirates draft pick would get out of the jam allowing an unearned run. Shumaker pitched the final 4.0 innings for the save with one hit and two strikeouts.
The Hurricanes bounced back strong on Saturday with solid offense, defense and pitching. UM out hit JU 13-5, led by Javy Rodriguez (3-for-4) and his three stolen bases. Haas Pratt went 2-for-4 with three RBI and was a big part of UM’s game breaking seven-run second inning. Four UM pitchers held the Dolphins to five hits and three runs (one earned). Reliever Dan Smith scored the win with 4.0 innings, two hits, two walks and six strikeouts.
Miami’s four-run start in the first inning on Sunday was enough to clinch the series for the Hurricanes. The four runs on came on three hits, including another two-RBI double from Pratt. Tom Farmer pitched 7.0 innings with no earned runs allowed and 10 strikeouts. Four UM relievers held JU to no runs on one hit over the final 2.0 innings.
VS. THE ATLANTIC SUN CONFERENCE — Miami has forged an all-time record of 258-67 (.794) against teams in the Atlantic Sun Conference (formerly the TAAC). Under Head Coach Jim Morris, Miami is 53-14 (.791) vs. the Atlantic Sun since 1994. Miami has only faced A-Sun member FAU this season, defeating the Blue Wave, 6-5, on April 24 at Mark Light Stadium. Last season, Miami took six of eight games with the Atlantic Sun, including the 2001 Coral Gables Regional Championship over Stetson.
MIAMI AND THE PSEUDO-RPI — Following games of May 12, Miami finds itself ranked 22nd in the latest Boyd’s World pseudo-Ratings Power Index (pseudo RPI’s).
The Hurricanes have five top-12 opponents in Florida State (#3), Georgia Tech (#4), Florida (#8), Houston (#9) and North Carolina (#12), while 14 are rated among the top 52.
THE CLASS OF 2002 — On Friday, May 10, three players, Luke DeBold, Troy Roberson and Vince Vazquez, walked across the stage as part of graduation commencement ceremonies. DeBold, of Dyer, IN, graduated with a degree in Systems Analysis. Roberson, from Royal Palm Beach, received a degree in Liberal Arts. Vazquez, a resident of Miramar, earned a Finance degree. Both Roberson and Vazquez have junior athletic eligibility due to medical redshirts in 2001 and 2000, respectively.
Other members of the Hurricanes’ Class of 2002 include: Matt Dryer, Javy Rodriguez and Brad Safchik.
Senior Notes
Vazquez and Rodriguez are currently the only two players in the nation to have won participated and won two College World Series. Both Roberson and DeBold played throughout the 1999 season, but did not participate in the postseason.Rodriguez is listed throughout the career offensive record books, including hits, stolen bases, at bats, run scored, total sacrifices and total bases.DeBold holds the school-record for consecutive appearances with a 13-game span from 2/9/00-3/3/00. He also places among the top five all-time in relief appearances.Roberson is the lone player on the squad to be drafted twice, so far. He was drafted in 1998 by the Baltimore Orioles out of high school and again last season by the Texas Rangers in the 28th round. Roberson did not a throw a single pitch in 2001.
KEVIN HOWARD HAS CAREER DAY AT GEORGIA TECH — Kevin Howard batted 6-for-6 in Miami’s 10-2 win over Georgia Tech in game No. 2 with three runs scored, three doubles, two home runs, eight RBI and 15 total bases.
The six hits in the game tied the school-record set by Mike Fiore vs. UCF in 1985. The 15 total bases established a new school-record ahead of the 13 by Joe Squilla vs. Florida Tech in 1978 and Russ Jacobson vs. Princeton in 1999. The eight RBI ties for third-most in a single-game by a Hurricane.
Additionally, the three runs scored, three doubles and two home runs all are career-highs, as well.
JAVY RODRIGUEZ LISTED THROUGHOUT MIAMI CAREER RECORDS — Senior All-American Javy Rodriguez has etched his name on numerous Miami career record lists this season, including hits, stolen bases, at bats, total sacrifices, total bases and run scored.
KEVIN HOWARD NEARS CAREER DOUBLES RECORD, MOVES UP HIT LIST — Kevin Howard enters the Jacksonville series with 62 career doubles, including a team-high 20 on the season. He is three away from the school-record 65 by Jose Trujillo (1985-88) and one behind No. 2 Mike Fiore (63, 1985-88). Howard has led the Hurricanes in each of his two previous seasons with 22 doubles as a freshman in 2000 and 20 as a sophomore in 2001.
Additionally, Howard recently had seven hits in the Georgia Tech series to give him 241 for his career, jumping him into No. 7 all-time.
DANNY MATIENZO RANKED ON CAREER POWER LISTS — Danny Matienzo hit two home runs in the Georgia Tech series last weekend to give him a team-best 13 on the season and 35 for his career. The 35 home runs ties for No. 8 all-time at Miami with Frank Dominguez (1985-88).
After jumping onto the career RBI list during the Bethune-Cookman series, Matienzo moved from No. 9 to No. 7 with his four RBI during the Georgia Tech series to give him 166 for his career.
LUKE DeBOLD LOOKS FOR APPEARANCES — Luke DeBold enters the Jacksonville series with 97 career appearances, all in relief. The statistic places fourth all-time for overall appearances and appearances in relief. This season, he has had just seven appearances due to an elbow strain. Danny Graves (1992-94) is next up with 99 career appearances, all in relief.
GEORGE HUGUET IN FIFTH-PLACE FOR CAREER SAVES — George Huguet earned his last save vs. FAU which gave him 21 for his career, fifth all-time at Miami. Rick Raether (1984-86) holds the school-record with 37 career saves. Jay Tessmer (1994-95) is in fourth-place with 23 saves.
Huguet also has 76 career appearances in relief, which places 9th on the career list behind No. 8 Jay Tessmer (85, 1994-95).
