#6 MIAMI HOSTS ORAL ROBERTS IN FOUR-GAME SERIES
March 30, 2005
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – The sixth-ranked Miami Hurricanes (22-7 overall, 8-4 ACC) will play host to Oral Roberts (13-10) in its only four-game series of the season and its second-to-last non-conference series of 2005.
Miami and Oral Roberts will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at Mark Light Field, with Sunday’s series finale set for noon (NOTE: Sunday’s game has been changed from its original time of 1 p.m. to noon).
The Hurricanes went 2-2 last week with wins against Florida International (11-3) and Georgia Tech (20-1) before losing the final two games of a three-game series with the Yellow Jackets. Despite the two losses, Miami jumped up one spot in the ESPN/Sports Weekly poll to no. 6.
Miami junior ace Cesar Carrillo (6-0, 1.12 ERA) is fresh off a performance that won him ACC Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season and will look to set a school record for consecutive victories to start a career Thursday night. Carrillo is 18-0 in his career and the Hurricanes are 27-0 when he pitches. He will face Dennis Bigley (4-1, 3.30), a foe the `Canes would rather forget about. Bigley pitched a complete-game one-hitter against the Hurricanes in a 10-1 win April 5, 2003 at Mark Light Field. He also doubles as a first baseman and leads the team with 24 RBIs this season.
UM’s starting lineup is batting .360 and has been led the last nine games by sophomore catcher Eddy Rodriguez’s .533 average and four home runs. Junior Ryan Braun is hitting .457 with a team-leading 10 home runs and 43 RBIs. Sophomore Jon Jay leads the team with a .461 average and 33 RBIs in the cleanup spot.
Oral Roberts is looking to break a four-game losing streak, including a 7-4 loss to Southwest Missouri State Tuesday night. The Golden Eagles are holding opponents to a .233 batting average and have not allowed more than eight runs all season.
Tickets, priced at $7 and $5 for seniors and youth 17 years of age and younger, are available online at hurricanesports.com or by calling 305-284-CANE in Miami-Dade County or 1-800-GO-CANES elsewhere.
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (13-10) at6/8/12 Miami Hurricanes (22-7, 8-4 ACC)
Game #30Thursday: Oral Roberts at MiamiMarch 31, 7 p.m. (Mark Light Field)Radio: WVUM (90.5 FM)Television: Comcast Sports SoutheastProbable Starting Pitchers:ORU: #25 Dennis Bigley, RHP/1B (4-1, 3.30 ERA)UM: #13 Cesar Carrillo, RHP (6-0, 1.12 ERA)
Game #31Friday: Oral Roberts at MiamiApril 1, 7 p.m. (Mark Light Field)Radio: WVUM (90.5 FM)Probable Starting Pitchers:ORU: #18 Taylor McIntyre, LHP (2-5, 3.31 ERA)UM: #40 Ricky Orta, RHP (5-2, 2.95 ERA)
Game #32Saturday: Oral Roberts at MiamiApril 2, 7 p.m. (Mark Light Field)Radio: WVUM (90.5 FM)Probable Starting Pitchers:ORU: #32 Rene Recio, RHP (1-1, 1.20 ERA)UM: #18 Brendan Camardese, LHP (3-0, 4.50 ERA)
Game #33Sunday: Oral Roberts at MiamiApril 3, Noon (Mark Light Field)Radio: WVUM (90.5 FM); WSUA (1260 AM); WQAM (560 AM)Probable Starting Pitchers:ORU: #TBAUM: #31 Dan Touchet, RHP (2-2, 5.70 ERA)
Rankings listed in order Sports Weekly Coaches/Baseball America/Collegiate Baseball.
ON TELEVISION THIS WEEK Thursday’s game will be broadcast on Comcast Sports Southeast with play-by-play man Frank Forte and former Hurricane Wicho Hernandez providing color commentary.
LAST WEEK Miami 11, Florida International 3 – March 23, 2005 – Brandon Camardese won his second consecutive start and Eddy Rodriguez hit his third home run in as many games to lead the Hurricanes at University Park. Camardese pitched 5.2 innings, gave up two runs, one walk and had one strikeout to move his record to 3-0. Ryan Braun and Paco Figueroa both went 3 for 5 and Rodriguez went 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs. Miami 20, Georgia Tech 1 – March 25, 2005 – Miami ended Georgia Tech’s Atlantic Coast Conference-record winning streak at 25 games with a 20-1 win in front of a season-high crowd of 3,574 at Mark Light Field While Tech’s winning streak ended, Cesar Carrillo’s continued. The junior threw 7.0 innings and gave up one run on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks to improve his season record to 6-0. Carrillo’s career record reached 18-0 with the win, tying him with Jerry Brust (1974-75) for the most wins to start a career and most consecutive decisions won in school history. Miami extended its record to 27-0 when Carrillo pitches with the victory. Georgia Tech 17, Miami 7 – March 26, 2005 – Miami gave up 12 runs in the final five innings. Ricky Orta (5-2) was charged with his first loss as a starter and gave up seven runs on 10 hits with four walks and six strikeouts in four and one-third innings. Ryan Braun, Brendan Katin and Eddy Rodriguez all homered for the Hurricanes. Georgia Tech 11, Miami 10 – March 27, 2005– The lead switched hands five times Sunday, the last coming on a two-run home by Georgia Tech’s Matt Wieters in the top of the ninth inning. The Hurricanes lost a 9-7 lead in the top of the ninth on a two-run double by right fielder Jeff Kindel off Miami reliever Danny Gil that tied the score at 9-9. Wieters followed with a two-run home run down the right field line to give the Yellow Jackets an 11-9 lead with the bottom half of the Miami order due up in the bottom of the ninth. UM shortstop Roger Tomas doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a one-out single by freshman Walter Diaz to bring the Hurricanes within 11-10. Diaz stole second, but it was as close as he would get to tying the game.
THIS AND THAT FROM LAST WEEK Friday, March 25… Danny Figueroa moved into fourth on Miami’s all-time hit-by-pitch list after he was hit for the 25th and 26th time in his career in the first inning…Jason Neighborgall’s three wild pitches in the first inning set a Hurricane record… John Michael Vidic tied the record later in the game… Braun moved into 10th-place on UM’s all-time RBI list, passing Manny Crespo’s (1998-2000) 158… The nine-run first inning was the most Miami has scored in an inning this season… UM tied a school record with its eight walks in the first inning… Diaz extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a second-inning single… The Hurricanes were walked a season-high 13 times, the most since the team walked 11 times against Florida State on April 10, 2004… The Hurricanes have scored in double digits in each of their last five wins… All nine Miami starters scored a run by the second inning… The 20 runs was the most for UM since a 22-3 win against Virginia on April 24, 2004… It was also the most runs the Hurricanes have ever scored against the Yellow Jackets… Sunday, March 27… Danny Figueroa’s steal of home was the first straight steal of home by a Hurricane since Javy Rodriguez took home against Florida International on Feb. 22, 2002… Paco Figueroa stole home against Florida on Feb. 18 on a double-steal attempt… Tomas’ home run was the first inside-the-parker by a Hurricane since Adam Ricks hit one against Florida International on Feb. 5, 2003.
CARRILLO EARNS SECOND ACC PITCHER OF THE WEEK AWARD Miami junior pitcher Cesar Carrillo was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season for his performance last week against a powerful Georgia Tech lineup. Carrillo pitched seven innings and gave up one run to the Yellow Jackets on six hits, with while striking out six in a 20-1 win Friday, March 25 at Mark Light Field. He improved his season record to 6-0 and tied a Miami school record for consecutive decisions won (18) and most wins before a loss in a career (18-0). The right-hander has struck out 55 batters against only eight walks in 48.0 innings this season with a 1.12 ERA. He previously won the award on March 7 for his performance in Miami’s first-ever ACC win against North Carolina State on March 4.
AND THE STREAK GOES ON… Cesar Carrillo and the Hurricanes just keep winning when he steps on the mound. The Hurricanes and Carrillo moved to 27-0 all-time when he pitches with a 20-1 win against fourth-ranked Georgia Tech last Friday, March 25. Carrillo’s latest conquest was a seven-inning performance to up his season record to 6-0 and his career record to 18-0. He leads all Hurricane starting pitchers with a 1.12 ERA, 55 strikeouts and has yielded 35 hits and eight walks in 48.0 innings. The Hurricanes have outscored their opponents 86-20 when Carrillo pitches this season.
WHERE THE STREAK STANDS Carrillo’s win last week ran his career record to 18-0 and tied Jerry Brust (1974-74) for the most consecutive decisions won and best start to a career at the University of Miami. Brust’s career record ended at 18-0, meaning that Carrillo will set a school record if he wins his next decision. However, Carrillo has a ways to go to reach the NCAA mark of 26 consecutive decisions won, held by Wake Forest’s Kyle Sleeth (2001-2003), BYU’s Scott Nielson (1978, ’82-83) and current Emory University (Division III) senior Will Tyler. Tyler’s streak ended at 26 games in a 6-4 loss to Brandeis University March 15 in Sanford, Fla. Below is a list of the all-time consecutive decisions won list in NCAA Division I:
Player, Team Years WKyle Sleeth, Wake Forest 2001-03 26Scott Nielson, BYU 1978, 82-83 26Kennie Steenstra, Wichita St. 1991-92 25Matt Phillips, Delaware 1996-98 23Earl Bass, South Carolina 1974-75 23Ken Smtih, West Virginia 1986-87 21Tony Arnold, Texas 1979, 81 21Cesar Carrillo, Miami 2004-current 18
COVERING ALL THE BASES Junior preseason All-American Ryan Braun has shown great range this season in making the switch from shortstop to third base. He has also shown great range on the stat sheet, where you can find his name among the ACC leaders in nearly every category. Braun ranks first home runs, RBIs, total bases and slugging percentage. Below is Braun’s season stat line with his ACC ranking:
Avg. AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB Slg. OB. SB .457 105 45 48 9 1 10 43 89 .848 .540 15 Rank 3 --- 3 3 --- NR 1 1 1 1 6 t-2
BULLSEYE Junior Danny Figueroa set one of the more painful Miami records by becoming the first Hurricane to be hit by a pitch twice in an inning in the first inning of the 20-1 win against Georgia Tech on March 25. Although that was a Hurricane first, being plunked is not uncommon for Figueroa. He is only six close pitches away from tying the school record for being hit by a pitch in a career. The second ball that found him against Georgia Tech was the 26th of his career, moving him into fourth place on the all-time list at Miami. His brother, Paco, is the only current Hurricane to join him on the all-time list.
ALL-TIME HIT-BY-PITCH LISTPlayer Years HBP1. Bobby Hill 1997-99 322. Jim Burt 2001-04 27 Wicho Hernandez1991-94 274. Danny Figueroa 2002-05 265. Kevin Brown 1998-2001 256. Paco Figueroa 2002-05 23 Mike Fiore 1985-88 238. Brian Barton 2003-04 229. Chris Hirsch 1988-90 18 Manny Crespo 1998-2000 18
1-2 PUNCH IN THE 3-4 Sophomore left fielder Jon Jay and junior third baseman Ryan Braun have formed a formidable and interchangeable offensive charge hitting in the 3 and 4 spot for the Hurricanes this season. Jay has batted in the cleanup spot 21 times, while Braun has been no. 4 in the order five times. Jay leads the team in hitting (.461) and on-base percentage (.540) and is third on the team with 33 RBIs. Braun is second on the team with a .457 average, nine doubles and leads the team with 45 runs, 10 home runs, 43 RBIs and a .848 slugging percentage. In 21 of the team’s 29 games, both Jay and Braun have had hits. Braun’s 16-game hitting streak ended against Pittsburgh on March 8, while Jay’s streak of 17 straight games was stopped against Duke on March 13.
THE EMERGENCE OF E-ROD Sophomore catcher Eddy Rodriguez is better known for his skills behind the plate rather than his skills at the plate. Through the first 21 games of the season, Rodriguez was carrying a batting average of .176, five runs, six hits, a double and three RBIs in 34 at-bats. Since then, Rodriguez has batted .533 with 16 hits, two doubles, four home runs, 12 RBIs and a 1.000 slugging pct. His hot hitting during the last nine games has boosted his average to .344, 113 points higher than his average as a freshman. A comparison of Rodriguez’s season prior to last week and the last nine games is below:
Games Avg. GP-GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB Slg. 1-21 .176 15-12 34 5 6 1 0 0 3 7 .20622-29 .533 9-9 30 12 16 2 0 4 12 30 1.000Totals .344 24-21 64 17 22 3 0 4 15 37 .590
YOU JUST MADE THE LIST, BUDDY Junior Ryan Braun’s home run against Georgia Tech last weekend was the 37th of his career and moved him into sole possession of ninth place on the Miami all-time home run list. In addition to his debut on UM’s home run ledger, He is also 10th on the all-time RBI list. He currently has 163 in his career and needs two more to tie Doug Shields (1981-84) for ninth place. The following is a list of Miami’s all-time home run and RBI leaders.
MIAMI ALL-TIME HOME RUN LEADERSMark Player Years1. 62 Phil Lane 1982-842. 61 Pat Burrell 1996-983. 48 Kevin Brown 1998-20014. 42 Danny Matienzo 2000-025. 40 Lale Esquivel 1997, `99-20006. 39 Randy Guerra 1976-79 39 Manny Crespo 1998-20008. 38 Charles Johnson 1990-929. 37 Ryan Braun 2003-pres. 10. 36 Jim Burt 2001-04
LANE BLAZING HIS OWN TRAIL Junior reliever Andrew Lane is having the best season of his career and has been the top performer out of the Hurricanes’ bullpen this season. The crafty left-hander began the season as a situational reliever and has evolved into the team’s top relief option with 19 games. Lane is 1-0 and has thrown 22 and two-thirds innings with 22 strikeouts, six walks and a 1.99 ERA. In addition, Lane has only allowed two of the 14 runners he has inherited in relief to score.
JAY JOINS HURRICANE ELITE Jon Jay’s fifth at-bat against N.C. State on March 6 was the 300th of his career at Miami and qualified him for placement among the school’s all-time hit leaders with 300-plus career at-bats. Jay debuted at No. 2 among Hurricane greats with a .403 average (121-of-300), second only to Pat Burrell (1996-98). Jay is now carrying a .399 career average heading into this weekend. The following is a look at who Jay has etched his name next to in the Miami record books:
Miami All-Time Leading Batting Average (300+ AB) 1. .442 Pat Burrell (1996-98)2. .400 Aubrey Huff (1997-98)3. .399 Jon Jay (2004-current) 4. .396 Jason Michaels (1997-98)5. .373 Orlando Gonzalez (1973-74)
IF IT’S NOT ONE FIGUEROA, IT’S THE OTHER Danny and Paco Figueroa have played virutally their entire baseball careers together. They are identical twins and the untrained eye wouldn’t be at fault if it confused the two. Danny hits in the leadoff spot and is followed Paco. While Paco is a second baseman, he has been playing in right field, next to Danny in center, and even filled in when Danny was hampered by an early-season injury. Their statistics are even similar: Danny is batting .333 with four home runs and 17 RBIs, while Paco is hitting .366 with one home run and 16 RBIs. At least one of the twins has had a hit in 21 of the 22 games both have played in. Thankfully, the rules of baseball require them to wear different numbers. Paco wears No. 16, Danny wears No. 2.
DIAZ LEARNING AT THE PLATE It took a little while, but freshman second baseman Walter Diaz has adjusted to facing college pitchers and has put together a 11-game hitting streak. In that span he has hit .361 with three doubles, a triple, two home runs, four RBIs and a .639 slugging percentage. He was hitting just .217 with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs with a .326 slugging percentage in the 15 games prior to his recent stretch. The 11-game spurt has boosted his season average to .293 and has totaled three home runs and nine RBIs.
THE STATE OF MAINE Redshirt freshman pitcher Scott Maine was touted as one of top prospects to come to Miami during head coach Jim Morris’ tenure with the Hurricanes. Maine was named Baseball America’s No. 7 overall prospect when he came out of William T. Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens in 2003 and was a 15th-round draft pick of the Seattle Mariners. Maine underwent Tommy John surgery in January 2004 and missed his entire freshman season. The road to recovery has been long and Maine finally made his debut against Rutgers on March 16, pitching 1.0 innings and giving up one hit and no runs. He made his second appearance in a 12-4 win against Wake Forest and yielded two unearned runs in two-thirds of an inning.
