Miami Heads to NCAA Columbia (Mo.) Regional

Miami Heads to NCAA Columbia (Mo.) Regional

May 30, 2007

MIAMI MAKES NCAA RECORD 35TH CONSECUTIVE REGIONAL APPEARANCE
Miami (36-22) extended its NCAA record by earning its 35th consecutive NCAA Regional berth when the Hurricanes were awarded the No. 2 seed at the NCAA Columbia (Mo.) Regional. The Hurricanes will face No. 3 seed Louisville at 2 p.m. (ET)/1 p.m. (CST). Miami begins the postseason on the road for the second straight season and only the fourth time in head coach Jim Morris’ 14-year tenure.

Regional host and Big 12 regular season runner-up Missouri (40-16) opens regional play at 6:30 p.m. (CT)/ 7:30 p.m. (ET) against No. 4 seed Kent State. All of UM’s regional play can be heard on three different stations. The games will be carried by the Student Voice of UM, WVUM (90.5 FM), which can also be picked up online at www.wvum.org. UM’s flagship WQAM 560 AM and spanish radio (WRHC1550 AM) will broadcast the games over the weekend. The games will not be televised

ABOUT THE MIAMI HURRICANES
Miami has won 10 of its last 13 games, which includes two wins over No. 6 national seed Florida State. The Hurricanes have an RPI of 17 and have played the eighth toughest schedule in the country. The Hurricanes finished strong to earn the No. 5 seed in the ACC Tournament and finished third in the ACC Coastal Division. UM is 23-16 against teams in the top 100 RPI. Miami went 1-2 in last week’s ACC Tournament.

MIAMI STREAKING TO AND THROUGH THE NCAA REGIONALS
– 2007 marks the 35th-consecutive postseason for Miami, adding onto the NCAA all-sport record it currently owns. The Hurricanes are 105-32 (.766) all-time in NCAA Regional play. Below are some numbers and facts regarding the ‘Canes and the NCAA Tournament:- 10 – Consecutive Regional openers the ‘Canes have won – Miami hasn’t lost the first game of a Regional since a 5-4 loss to Sam Houston St. in the Austin Regional on May 23, 1996. The Hurricanes recovered and advanced to the World Series, winning their next seven games.
– 13 – Consecutive Regionals won – The Hurricanes have never lost a Regional under Head Coach Jim Morris.
– 14 – Consecutive Regionals with Jim Morris at the helm – Since taking over the program in 1994, Head Coach Jim Morris has led the Hurricanes to a Regional every season he has been here.
– 24 – Consecutive Regional wins against teams other than the University of Florida – The Hurricanes are 27-2 in their last 29 NCAA Regional Games, with both losses coming to Florida. Miami also grabbed four wins against the Gators and 17 straight against teams besides the Gators in that time. Miami’s last Regional loss to a team other than Florida was a 6-5 loss to North Carolina on May 22, 1998.
– 20 – Consecutive Regional-opening home wins – Miami has won its last 20 Regional home openers, spanning nearly 30 years. The Hurricanes last lost the first game of a Regional at home with an 8-5 loss to Clemson on May 19, 1978.
– 23 – Consecutive years Jim Morris has led a team into the postseason – That includes nine consecutive appearances when he coached at Georgia Tech.
– 35 – Consecutive postseason appearances by Miami – An NCAA record.
– 42 – Regional games since Miami had back-to-back losses – Miami has made a habit of bouncing back in the Regionals since Jim Morris took over in 1994. The Hurricanes have played in 45 Regional games since experiencing their last set of back-to-back losses prior, to Morris’ arrival, at the 1993 Baton Rouge Regional.

Jim Morris IN THE POSTSEASON
Miami has earned a bid to the postseason in each of Jim Morris’ 14 years at the helm of the baseball program. Miami’s berth in the 2007 postseason extended Morris’ personal streak to 23 consecutive appearances, with the first nine coming while he was the coach at Georgia Tech. Morris has taken UM to 10 College World Series, winning in the National Championship in 1999 and 2001. He has a 77-28 (.733) record in postseason play at UM.

MIAMI AGAINST THE FIELD OF 64
Miami once again played one of the toughest schedules in the country, and the 2007 NCAA Tournament field proves it. Nine of UM’s opponents this season are in this year’s NCAA Tournament. UM was 13-13 against teams in this year’s Tournament.

ACC TOURNAMENT NOTES
• The Hurricanes went 1-2 in last week’s ACC Tournament, with both losses coming to NCAA Regional participants Clemson and Wake Forest.
• Jemile Weeks hit. 467 (7-for-13) with two runs, three triples and five RBI while sophomore first baseman Yonder Alonso went 4-for-10 with five walks.
• Senior catcher Richard O’Brien hit two home runs and drove in five RBI. He was named to the 2007 ACC All-Tournament team.
vs. Wake Forest, Saturday, May 25

MIAMI VS. 2007 COLUMBIA (MO.) REGIONAL FIELD
The Hurricanes are 2-0 all-time against teams in the 2007 NCAA Columbia (Mo.) Regional. UM defeated Louisville last season in Coral Gables, 13-4, on Feb. 15, 2006. The Hurricanes won their only ever meeting with Kent State during the 1994 season, 4-1, in Coral Gables. Miami has never faced Missouri.

ABOUT THE MISSOURI TIGERS
Missouri (40-16), the Big 12 Conference regular season runner-up, is serving as a first-time host at Taylor Stadium. The Tigers are ranked as high as No. 13 nationally. The Tigers posted a 19-8 record in the Big 12 play. Mizzou Head Coach Tim Jamieson was named the Co-Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year. Jamieson led Missouri who was picked to finish eighth in the Big 12 Conference to a second-place showing. The Tigers compiled a 19-8 record in the Big 12 this season, setting a school record for most wins in the conference. Mizzou freshman catcher Trevor Coleman was named the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year. Six other Tigers earned all-conference honors led by All-Big 12 First Team selections designated hitter Jacob Priday and RHP Aaron Crow. All-Big 12 Second Team honorees were outfielder Evan Frey and honorable mention selections RHP Kyle Gibson, LHP Rick Zagone and third baseman Kyle Mach. Frey leads the team hitting .346 with a team-high 72 hits and 64 runs scored. Priday hits .299 with 13 doubles, four triples and 10 home runs and a team-high 55 RBI. Crow is 8-3 with a 3.17 ERA with 81 K’s in 108 innings.

ABOUT THE LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
The Cardinals (40-20) fell in the BIG EAST Championship series to Rutgers, after enjoying one their best seasons on the diamond. Friday starter Zack Pitts was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year, compiling an 8-3 record with a 1.78 ERA (ranked 10th nationally), striking out 80 in 106.0 IP and limiting opponents to a .204 batting average. A record nine Louisville players were named to the All-BIG EAST teams, including Pitts, Boomer Whiting and Logan Johnson on the first-team. Derrick Alfonso, Chris Cates, Isaiah Howes, Daniel Burton and Justin Marks were all named to the second team. Magnuson was a third team selection. The Cards established a new school record with a BIG EAST leading 141 steals, and the pitching staff struck out a school record 441 batters.

ABOUT THE KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES
The Golden Flashes (33-24) earned an automatic bid after winning the MAC Tournament championship. All-MAC first team selection Andrew Davis leads the team while batting .336 in 57 games with a team-best 78 hits and 53 RBI. He has 16 doubles annd 41 runs. Left fielder Anthony Gallas’ has 13 doubles and 10 home runs. He is hitting .332 with 67 hits. Kent State’s pitching staff has compiled a 3.47 team ERA. Closer Ryan Davis has eight saves while going 6-3 with a 1.78 ERA.

2007 NCAA Columbia (Mo.) Regional Schedule
Friday, June 1
2:00 p.m. Miami (FL) vs. Louisville (Game #1)
7:30 p.m. Missouri vs. Kent State (Game #2)

Saturday, June 2
2:00 p.m. Game #3 (Loser of Game #1 vs. Loser Game #2)
7:30 p.m. Game #4 (Winner of Game #1 vs. Winner of Game #2)

Sunday, June 3
2:00 p.m. Game #5 (Winner of Game #3 vs. Loser of Game #4)
7:30 p.m. Game #6 (Winner of Game #4 vs. Winner of Game #5)

Monday, June 4
2:00 p.m. Game #7 (if necessary – same teams as Game #6)
Times above have been changed to local time in South Florida