Miami Set to Host Second-Ranked Georgia Tech
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March 27, 2003
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (hurricanesports.com) – With a 20-4 record and a No. 13 national ranking, the Miami baseball team faces its toughest opposition to date with second-ranked Georgia Tech visiting Mark Light Field for a three-game series this weekend.
The No. 2 Yellow Jackets are 21-2 and 3-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. GT also sports a 5-0 record on the road.
The two national powers will play at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29 before closing out the series with a 1 p.m. contest on Sunday, March 30.
Head Coach Jim Morris is 8-4 all-time against his former team, while the Hurricanes lead the all-time series 32-13-2. UM has won 12 of the last 13 games against Georgia Tech in Miami and haven’t lost a series to the Yellow Jackets on their home field since 1959.
All three games will be televised by Fox Sports Net Florida and will be carried in Atlanta on Fox Sports Net South. Frank Forte will call the play-by-play with Luis ‘Wicho’ Hernandez on color.
The Voice, WVUM 90.5 and WNMA 1210 AM are carrying all three games, while Miami’s flagship station, WQAM 560 AM, will broadcast Friday and Sunday’s games.
J.D. Cockroft (4-0, 2.39 ERA) will go to the mound on Friday night for the Hurricanes. Georgia Tech will counter with All-American Kyle Bakker (4-0, 3.58 ERA). Vince Bongiovanni (4-1, 2.59 ERA) will get the call on Saturday night with Andrew Kown (2-0, 2.61 ERA pitching for the Yellow Jackets. Brandon Camardese will pitch for Miami in the series finale on Sunday. GT’s Brian Burks (1-0, 2.39 ERA) will get the start for the Ramblin Wreck.
Gaby Sanchez (.385) leads a Miami lineup that is hitting .327 as a team. Sanchez also leads the team in RBIs with 26 and doubles (12). Georgia Tech is hitting .302 as a team and has pounded out 38 home runs. Catcher/third baseman Mike Nickeas leads the club with a .366 batting average, while freshman Micah Owings (.324) supplies the power with seven home runs.
On the mound, the Hurricanes have a 3.71 team ERA and are averaging 8.25 (198 total) strike outs per game. The Yellow Jackets have an impressive 2.86 team ERA and are holding opponents to a .229 batting average.
Former UM running back Willis McGahee will throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Saturday, March 27. The “Save the Children Tour” will also make a stop at ‘The Light’ to promote the new amber alert device. Children and their parents are encouraged to attend the game, as they will be provided with free “McGruff Children ID Kits” used by Federal Law Enforcement Agencies.
A distant cousin to the Miami Maniac, known as The Maniac, will be making his first ever appearance during Saturday night’s game against Georgia Tech. The Miami Maniac and his newfound distant cousin The Maniac will perform various skits together for the first time.
Tickets are available by calling 1-800-GO-CANES. Ticket prices are $15 for a chairback seat and $8 for adult general admission. Youth and seniors general admission tickets are $6.
— Hurricanes —
