Miami Hosts San Diego State For Three-Game Series
Feb. 20, 2003
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Game 7: San Diego State (5-5)at No. (13/NR/20) Miami (4-2)
Friday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m. (Mark Light Field)Radio: WVUM (90.5 FM); WQAM (560 AM)Television: Fox Sports Net, 7 p.m.Probable Starting PitchersUM: #31 Dan Touchet, RHP (1-0, 2.84 ERA)SDSU: #5 Mike Moat, RHP (1-1, .047 ERA)
Game 8: San Diego State at Miami
Saturday, Feb. 22, 7 p.m. (Mark Light Field)Radio: WVUM (90.5 FM); WNMA (1210 AM)Television: Fox Sports Net, 10:30 p.m.Probable Starting PitchersUM: #34 Vince Bongiovanni, LHP (1-1, 1.59 ERA)SDSU: #11 Joe Carque, RHP (1-0, 2.70 ERA)
Game 9: San Diego State at Miami
Sunday, Feb. 23, Noon (Mark Light Field)Radio: WVUM (90.5 FM); WQAM (560 AM)Television: Fox Sports Net, NoonProbable Starting Pitchers:UM: #18 Brandon Camardese (1-0, 1.80 ERA)SDSU: #27 Ron Lindsey (1-2, 6.75 ERA)
Tony Gwynn’s Aztecs Set For Visit to Mark Light Field
Former San Diego Padre Tony Gwynn will lead his 5-5 San Diego State Aztecs into a three-game series with the No. 13/NR/20 (Collegiate Baseball/Baseball America/Sports Weekly/ESPN) Miami Hurricanes starting Friday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. at Mark Light Field. The Aztecs are receiving votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll, while UM is ranked 12th. All three games will be broadcast by Fox Sports Net Florida with Frank Forte handling play-by-play duties with Luis “Wicho” Hernandez providing the color commentary. The student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM will broadcast all three games, while WQAM 560 AM will carry the Friday and Sunday games. UM’s Spanish broadcasting partner WNMA 1210 AM will carry Saturday’s contest. The Hurricanes hold a 1-0 lead in the all-time series. UM beat the Aztecs 8-6 during the 2001 season in the Hormel Foods Classic at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn. Miami is coming off of a split with intrastate rival Florida this past weekend. UM opened with a convincing 9-2 win over the Gators on Friday night. Dan Touchet pitched seven strong innings, allowing only seven hits and two earned runs, while neither run was earned. He struck out eight and didn’t issue a walk. Brian Barton delivered the decisive blow in UM’s five-run eighth inning with a three-run line-drive home run to left field. UF responded on Saturday with a 5-3 win, as the Miami bats never got on track. Jim Burt homered to left in the ninth to close the gap, but it wasn’t enough. Sunday’s contest was rained out. San Diego State won two of three games from Santa Clara over the weekend. SDSU opened with a 5-4 win on Friday night before falling 9-6 on Saturday. The Aztecs closed the series with a 9-3 win over Santa Clara. Gwynn’s squad picked up their biggest win of the season earlier in the week with a 5-0 win over then-No. 20 South Alabama. San Diego State opened the season 0-4, including a three-game sweep at the hands of No. 24 Arizona State. Gwynn is in his first year at the helm of his alma mater San Diego State. He was named the SDSU head coach on Sept. 21, 2001, but spent the 2002 season as a volunteer coach under long-time Head Coach Jim Dietz, who he played for from 1979-1981. He officially took over the head coaching duties in July of 2002.
Leading Off
The UM Rotation – Right-hander Dan Touchet will get the call on the mound in the series opener against San Diego State. Touchet is coming off of a win against Florida where he went 7.0 innings, allowing two runs (no earned runs) and seven hits, while striking out a season-high eight batters. Left-hander Vince Bongiovanni (1-1, 1.59 ERA) will take the hill in Saturday’s contest. The sophomore Another sophomore, Brandon Camardese, is scheduled to start the series finale on Sunday. He went 5.1 innings in a 5-3 loss to Florida on Feb. 15. He gave up two earned runs and five hits, while striking out five. Camardese enters his second start with a 1-0 record and a 1.80 ERA. He hasn’t pitched since a win over Campbell on Feb. 7. Camardese was scheduled to throw the series finale at Florida before it was rained out.
Closing – J.D. Cockroft has handled the closer’s role during the first portion of the season with junior George Huguet out with a sore shoulder. Cockroft won the Ron Fraser Award, as chosen by the coaching staff, as the Hurricanes’ top pitcher a year ago. Cockroft is 1-0 on the young season with a 2.00 ERA. Huguet could make his return to the Hurricane bullpen this weekend in a limited role.
Captains Named – Jim Burt and J.D. Cockroft were named captains, by a vote of their teammates, prior to the Hurricanes’ annual showdown with the Alumni on Feb. 1. It is the second straight selection for Burt, who served as a captain as a sophomore on last year’s squad. He has made the move to first base on a full-time basis this season and is hitting .333 with two home runs and six RBI. Cockroft, who has served in the closer’s role early on in 2003 is 1-0 on the season with a 2.00 ERA in 9.0 innings of work.
Figueroa X2 – Identical twins Danny and Paco Figueroa return for their sophomore campaigns, starting in center field and at shortstop, respectively, for the second straight year. The duo hit an identical .300 as freshman, and haven’t missed a beat in 2003. Danny is leading the UM regulars with a .500 batting average, collecting 12 hits in 24 at bats while scoring a team-high 14 runs and stealing four bases from his leadoff spot. Paco, while playing a solid shortstop, is hitting .333 with seven runs scored and one home run.
On the base paths – With speed throughout the lineup, Miami has continued its aggressive style on the base paths. Through six games the Hurricanes have swiped 11 bases in 14 attempts. Leadoff hitter Danny Figueroa leads the way for Miami, going 4-for-4 on stolen base attempts, with twin brother Paco stealing both bases he’s attempted so far this season. First baseman Jim Burt is has also stolen two bases in two tries so far this season, while freshman second baseman Ryan Braun is 2-for-2 on the base paths as well.
UM Goes 1-1 at Florida; Sunday Game Rained Out
Miami split with its intrastate rival Florida this past weekend. The Hurricanes won the opener Friday night, 9-2, before dropping game two 5-3 on Saturday. Sunday’s series finale was rained out. Dan Touchet turned in his second solid outing of the season on Friday night. The right-hander improved to 1-0 on the young season with seven strong innings, giving up seven hits and two runs, with neither run earned. He also struck out a season-high eight UF hitters. With the score tied at 2-2, the Hurricanes scored five runs with two outs in the eighth inning to blow the game open. Paco and Danny Figueroa both grounded out to start the eighth inning. Adam Ricks doubled down the right field line to get things started for the Miami. Gaby Sanchez followed with a single to center field, scoring Ricks and giving Miami the lead back. Following an infield hit by Ryan Braun, Jim Burt ripped a RBI single to left field. Right fielder Brian Barton iced the game for UM with a line-drive three-run home run into McKethan Stadium’s left field bleachers for a 7-2 lead. The Hurricanes would tack on two insurance runs in the ninth inning. Game two saw Florida pitching quiet the Miami bats, as the Hurricanes managed only four hits of UF’s staring pitcher Justin Hoyman and three hits of reliever Lee Roberson. The Saturday afternoon tilt wasn’t without controversy. Holding on to a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning with one out, UM hurler Tom King surrendering a walk to Stephen Barton and a double to Matt Cresap. With runners on first and third, Dowdy singled to center field, scoring Barton and apparently Cresap. UM then brought in Shawn Valdes-Fauli to pitch, who appealed to third base where Cresap was ruled out for not touching third base. Florida manager Pat McMahon was ejected from the game for arguing following the play. Miami would pull to within 5-3 with a solo home run off Burt’s bat in the ninth, but it wouldn’t be enough, as Roberson closed the game, getting Paco Figueroa to pop out the the second baseman.
Scouting San Diego State
San Diego State comes into Mark Light Field for a three-game series with a 5-5 record. The Aztecs took two of three games from Santa Clara over the weekend and pulled off their biggest win of the season earlier in the week with a 5-0 win over then-No. 20 South Alabama. SDSU dropped the first four games of the season, including a series sweep at the hands of fifth-ranked Arizona State. SDSU is 1-4 on the road this season. On the mound, the Aztecs enter the game with a team ERA of 3.86. SDSU features a starting rotation of right-handers Mike Moat (Friday), Joe Carque (Saturday) and Ronnie Lindsey (Sunday). Moat is 1-1 with an impressive 0.47 ERA in 19.0 innings of work that is spread out over three starts. He leads the team in strikeouts with 18, against only three walks. Moat made a relief appearance against the Hurricanes in 2001, giving up one earned run while failing to get an out. Carque is 1-0 in 2003 with a staff-high 20 innings pitched. He sports a 2.70 ERA with opponents only hitting .169. Lindsey is 1-2 on the season with a 6.75 ERA. He has made three starts and pitched 9.1 innings. At the plate, San Diego State is highlighted by the head coach’s son, Anthony Gwynn, who has four steals and seven RBI in 2003, while hitting .233. First baseman Rielly Embrey leads the Aztecs at the plate with a .375 batting average, while second baseman Peter Stonard has a team-high 12 hits and five stolen bases. Newcomer James Guerrero starts at shortstop for SDSU with a .297 batting average. Chad Corona should make the start at third base, while Josh Allen or Jordan Swaydan will see action behind the plate. Joining Gwynn in the outfield is Curt Mendoza and Jake McLintock. The elder Gwynn was hired as San Diego State’s head coach on Sept. 20, 2001. He served as a volunteer coach for the Aztecs in 2002 under former Head Coach Jim Dietz, who retired at the end of the 2002 season. Gwynn played baseball for SDSU from 1979-1981, while also starring on the basketball team. He was a two-time All-American on the baseball diamond as an outfielder. Gwynn played for the Padres for 20 years, recording a career batting average of .338. He won eight National League batting titles, five Gold Gloves and made 15 appearances in the All-Star Game. Gwynn is one of only 16 major league players to have played at least 20 years and spent their entire careers with the same team.
Tony Gwynn Availability
San Diego State Head Coach Tony Gwynn will be available to local Miami media when he arrives at Mark Light Field prior to Friday night’s game. The Aztecs are expected to be at the field around 4:30 p.m. Gwynn will also address the media following the game on topics related to the game or the series.
UM-San Diego State Time Change
The series finale between Miami and San Diego State on Sunday, Feb. 23 has been moved from 1 p.m. to noon. The move was made to accommodate the Aztecs’ travel plans. San Diego State is under the first-year direction of former perennial major league All-Star Tony Gwynn. The series will open on Friday, Feb. 21, with a 7 p.m. contest at Mark Light Field. Saturday’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m. first pitch, as well.
A look at the Polls
Miami enters the 2003 season ranked in the top 25 in three of four college baseball polls. Collegiate Baseball has UM ranked at No. 13. The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association has the Hurricanes slotted at No. 12, while the Sports Weekly/ESPN Coaches’ Poll has Miami at No. 20. Defending national champion Texas heads the list, tabbed the top choice by Collegiate Baseball, Sports Weekly/ESPN and the NCBWA. Georgia Tech was the top choice by Baseball America. UT, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Rice and Southern California were a consensus among the top five.
Center Fielder on Fire
Sophomore center fielder Danny Figueroa has been as hot as anyone in the country over UM’s first six games of the season. He leads Miami’s everyday players with a .500 batting average. Figueroa also leads the Hurricanes with 14 hits. He has hit safely in five of the those six games, including back-to-back four hit games and three multiple hit games. Figueroa leads the team in runs scored (14) and stolen bases (4). He reach base 10 consecutive times over a three-game stretch, beginning in his last at bat of the Friday, Feb. 7, game against Campbell, and his fourth at bat in the first game of the Florida series on Friday, Feb. 14. During that stretch, Figueroa collected seven hits, batted .875 and walked three times. By the second game of the Florida series on Saturday, Feb. 15, he had nine hits in his last 10 at bats, including three walks.
Burt Powers the UM Lineup
First baseman Jim Burt continues to come through for the Hurricanes at the plate. The Allendale, N.J., native and co-captain is hitting .333 on the year with two home runs and six RBI. Burt has hit safely in five of the Hurricanes’ six games so far this season, including a 3-for-5 night against Campbell on Friday, Feb. 7. He continued to hurt the Florida Gators this past weekend, crushing a solo home run that hit off the light pole behind the bleachers in left field in the ninth inning. The home run sparked a Miami rally that fell just short in Hurricanes’ 5-3 loss. Burt beat the Gators in last season’s Gainesville Regional with at two-out, two-strike double that lifted Miami to an 8-7 win.
San Pedro Controls the Running Game
Catcher Erick San Pedro has proven to be a force behind the plate for the Hurricanes in 2003. The sophomore has picked off three base runners and thrown two more out on the base paths in five games. He picked off two Florida base runners on Saturday, Feb. 15, throwing behind the runners at second base for the outs. San Pedro has struggled at the plate with a .176 batting average, but his receiving skills and handling of the pitching staff has been invaluable for the Hurricanes.
Freshman Making an Impact
True freshman Gaby Sanchez and Ryan Braun are making a big impact for the Hurricanes in 2003. Sanchez is out of Miami’s Brito Private High School where he was the 1A-4A Player of the Year in Dade County as a senior. He is hitting .440 in his six starts at third base for the Hurricanes and is currently on a six game hitting streak. He has recorded at least one hit in every game during his short Miami career. Sanchez has 11 hits in 25 at bats, including one home run. He is leading the team with 12 RBI. He was instrumental in UM’s 10-3 over Campbell Friday, Feb. 7, going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Braun is hitting .476, which is second among the Hurricanes’ everyday players. He has a 10 hits in his six starts with four RBI, while scoring three runs. The Granada Hills, Calif., native is slugging .786 and has an on-base percentage of .560. Braun, along with Sanchez, are the only Hurricanes to have hit safely in each of the first six games.
Transfers Making Plays
Transfers Brian Barton and Adam Ricks have stepped into Miami’s starting lineup and made an immediate impact for the Hurricanes. Barton is tied for the team lead in home runs with two, including a game-breaking three-run blast against Florida to put the game away. The starting right fielder is second on the team in RBI with 11, while posting a slugging percentage of .609. Ricks has started five of his games at designated hitter and one game at second base. He is hitting .455 with an inside the park home run and 10 RBI. Ricks is second on the team with two doubles. He has collected a hit in five of six games during his short Hurricane career and leads the team with four multiple hit games. He was the spark in UM’s season-opening win over FIU with five RBI.
Starting Pitching Solid For Hurricanes
The starting pitching for the Hurricanes early in the 2003 season has been excellent. UM has gotten at least five innings out of its starter in five of six games this season. No. 1 starter Dan Touchet is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA in a team-high 12.2 innings of work. He picked up his first win in a seven inning outing against Florida. Vince Bongiovanni has been throwing in the No. 2 spot in the rotation for UM. He is 1-1 with a 1.59 ERA. He was virtually untouchable in his first outing against Campbell. He only gave up one hit over six innings to pick up the win. Sophomore Brandon Camardese won his first game in a Hurricane uniform on Friday, Feb. 7, against Campbell. He threw five innings, giving up two hits and one run in the Hurricane win.
Miami Offense Clicking Early
It hasn’t taken the Hurricane offense long to get into the swing of things early on in the 2003 season. UM is hitting .340 as a team and scoring 9.3 runs per contest. Miami is also averaging 1.33 home run per game. Danny Figueroa is leading the Hurricanes’ starters with a .500 batting average, while scoring a team high 14 runs from his leadoff position. Brian Barton and Jim Burt are tops on the club with two home runs apiece, while freshman Gaby Sanchez is leading the team with 12 RBI and three doubles. The team as a whole is slugging .516 and has an on-base percentage of .406.
Parking for Fans and Media
A note to media and fans that the city of Coral Gables is now ticketing parking meters along San Amaro Drive. There are a limited number of media parking spots just outside Mark Light Stadium and in the parking lot along side Cobb Stadium. However, fans and any overflow media is encouraged to park for free inside the Ponce DeLeon Parking Garage just beyond the right field fence.
Hurricanes Retire J.D. Arteaga’s Number
Former Hurricanes standout J.D. Arteaga had his number 33 jersey retired Feb. 5 during a pregame ceremony, prior to throwing out the first pitch. Arteaga pitched from 1994-1997 for UM. He spent last year with the Houston Astros triple-A affiliation the New Orleans Zephyrs. Arteaga will be looking to make the Astros’ squad when he reports for spring training later this month. He is the Hurricanes’ all-time leader in wins (43) and starts (72). Arteaga is also second in all-time innings pitched, throwing 458.1 innings while at UM. Other Hurricanes to have their baseball jerseys retired are Orlando Gonzalez (#20), Charles Johnson (#23), Stan Jakubowski (#29), Randy Guerra (#25), Neal Heaton (#26), Skip Bertman (#15), Mike Fiore (#12), Doug Shields (#5) and legendary head coach Ron Fraser (#1).
Renovations For Mark Light Field Expected To Begin Following 2004 Season
Changes are ahead for Mark Light Field in the coming years. A $3.9 million donation by Texas Ranger’s all-star shortstop Alex Rodriguez officially kicked off the athletic department’s fund-raising effort to renovate Mark Light Field. Preliminary plans are to begin renovation following the 2004 season. The lead gift to the stadium renovation campaign represents the largest contribution ever to the University of Miami baseball program. The University will name the newly renovated facility Alex Rodriguez Park upon its construction. The naming will serve as a daily reminder to all who visit the Park of the impact Rodriguez has had on his hometown. The Hurricanes started playing baseball in Mark Light Stadium in 1973. UM has hosted 18 NCAA Regionals and two NCAA Super Regional, as the Hurricanes made 30 consecutive postseason appearances.
