Hurricanes Face Defending World Champions
March 2, 2004
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Hurricanes Face Defending World Champions
The University of Miami baseball team travels north to Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday to take on the defending World Series Champion Florida Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium at 3 p.m. The Hurricanes are 7-3 on the season and ranked sixth by Baseball America. Miami will send left-hander J.D. Cockroft to the mound to face the Marlins. Cockroft is 0-2 on the season with a 5.11 ERA. Wednesday’s match-up with the Florida Marlins is UM’s 26th meeting with a Major League Club, since its first game against the Brooklyn Dodgers on March 17, 1950. The Hurricanes also own a 7-6 win over the Baltimore Orioles in 1982. The Hurricanes are 0-4-1 against the Marlins, earning a tie in a 5-5 rain-shortened game in Coral Gables in 2002. The Marlins will start right-handed pitcher Justin Wayne against a Hurricanes’ lineup that is hitting .327 through the first 10 games of the season. Wayne made five starts for the Marlins last year, compiling a 2-3 record with a 5.32 ERA, allowing 16 runs (14 ER) on 22 hits with 13 walks and 16 strikeouts in 23.2 IP. Former Hurricane Mike Neu along with David Manning, Toby Borland, Delvin James and Blaine Neal are slated to pitch for the Marlins. Florida’s starting position players will likely get at least one at-bat. The Marlins captured a 5-1 win over th Hurricanes last season in Jupiter. Dontrelle Willis started the game for Florida.
Morris, McKeon Share Elon Roots
Florida Marlins manager Jack McKeon and UM skipper Jim Morris both graduated from Elon University. Both managers graduated from the North Carolina school with degrees physical education. Elon is set to visit Mark Light Field over the weekend for a three-game series.
San Pedro Going Deep
Catcher Erick San Pedro has had the long ball stroke going during the early portion of the Hurricanes’ 2004 schedule. The strong-armed catcher has blasted a team-high five home runs, while driving in 16 runs. He also leads the team in slugging percentage at .871. His five home runs is a career high, after hitting four during his sophomore campaign in 2003.
Touchet Turns Back the Clock
Right-hander Dan Touchet looked like his old self – before Tommy John surgery – on Sunday, Feb. 29, against Minnesota. Touchet pitched five innings to earn the win, allowing two runs on two hits, while striking out six on 78 pitches.
Burt Off to Smoking Start
Jim Burt has started the 2004 campaign red hot, hitting .349 with five doubles, two triples and two home runs, including a grand slam. His team-high 17 RBI through 10 games is almost half way to his 2003 total of 40 in 63 games. Burt has tied his career high of four hits twice this season.
Up Next
Miami welcomes the Maine Black Bears for a 7 p.m. contest at Mark Light Field on Thursday, March 4. Elon will then visit ‘The Light’ for a three-game series beginning on Friday, March 5, at 7 p.m. The Saturday game between the Hurricanes and Phoenix is set for a 4 p.m. first pitch, while Sunday’s game will start at 1 p.m.
