Miami And Florida State Continue Diamond Rivalry In Tallahassee
April 13, 2006
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Miami faces its biggest rival in the midst of the toughest and most-crucial portion of its schedule this weekend at second-ranked Florida State. The 22nd-ranked Hurricanes (24-12 overall, 9-6 ACC Coastal) and Seminoles (32-4, 12-3 ACC Atlantic) begin the series with a 7 p.m. first pitch on Friday, April 14 at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee. UM and FSU continue the series at 7 p.m. on Saturday and conclude the series with a 1 p.m. start on Sunday.
All three games can be heard on the Student Voice of UM, WVUM 90.5 FM. FSN Florida will broadcast Saturday’s game, while Sun Sports will carry the series finale live on Sunday.
As if intra-state bragging rights weren’t enough to play for, Miami is trying to turn the corner on its season. A slight tailspin has seen the Hurricanes drop nine spots in the coaches’ poll and lose five-of-six games in the last two weeks, albeit against two top 10 teams in Clemson and North Carolina. It will be no easy task, as Florida State owns the country’s best record and sits comfortably atop the ACC’s Atlantic Division.
The Seminoles own a 128-111-4 advantage in the all-time series, including a 71-49-1 record in Tallahassee. Miami has won six of the last 10 games between the two teams, including two games last year in Coral Gables. UM also took two-of-three in its last visit to Dick Howser Stadium in the 2004 season.
UM fell behind in all three games against UNC last week, but was able to post its first comeback win of the season last Saturday. Senior right fielder Tommy Giles went 4-for-4 with a double, home run and three RBI. Giles, who led the team with a .583 average in the series, knocked in the game-tying run and scored the winning run in the seventh inning. Closer Chris Perez dominated in 2.1 innings of work, striking out five Tar Heels to seal the win.
Florida State swept Boston College in Chestnut Hill and has won six straight heading into Friday’s game.
As Miami’s starting pitchers go, so do the Hurricanes. UM’s starting rotation of Carlos Gutierrez (Friday), Manny Miguelez (Saturday) and Scott Maine (Sunday) were a combined 17-2 with a 1.99 ERA through the first 30 games of the season. The trio is a combined 0-5 in the last six games.
Sophomore right-hander Gutierrez (7-3, 2.98 ERA) looks to right his ship against FSU ace Bryan Henry (8-1, 1.74 ERA) on Friday night. Miguelez (LHP, 5-2, 2.79 ERA) will face right-hander Tyler Chambliss (8-1, 1.99 ERA) on Saturday. Southpaw Maine (5-2, 4.81 ERA) will get the starting nod against Barrett Browning (6-0, 4.20 ERA) on Sunday.
The series will also feature two of the country’s best centerfielders in Miami’s Jon Jay and FSU’s Shane Robinson. Jay is hitting .336 with 17 stolen bases, 41 runs scored and was teammates with Robinson on the USA National Team last summer.
