March 3, 2008
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Game 7
Tuesday: Lehigh (4-5) at No. 6 <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Miami (5-1)
Mar. 4, 7 p.m. (Mark Light Field)
Radio: WVUM (90.5 FM)
Webcast: ACC Select
Probable Starting Pitchers:
UM: 36 Jason Santana, RHP (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Lehigh: 22 Andrew Berger, RHP (2-1, 9.72 ERA)
HURRICANES HOST LEHIGH IN MIDWEEK CONTEST
Miami (5-1) plays its first true midweek game of the season when the Hurricanes host Lehigh at 7 p.m. at Mark Light Field Tuesday. The game will be carried on the radio by the Student Voice of UM, WVUM (90.5 FM), which can also be picked up online at www.wvum.org.
ABOUT THE MIAMI HURRICANES
Miami (5-1) is coming off a series win over in-state rival Florida. It was the first time since the 2004 season that the Hurricanes won a regular season series over the Gators. Miami plays the lone midweek contest before opening Atlantic Coast Conference play this coming weekend when BostonCollege visits Mark Light Field. Junior right-hander Jason Santana will make his first start of the season against Lehigh. Santana is 1-0 with a save and a 0.00 ERA. He tossed 3 1/3 innings in relief against Florida to get his first win of the season last Saturday. He recorded a three-inning save in the Cincinnati series finale. On the season, Santana has seven strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings while only walking one and allowing three hits.
RECAPPING THE FLORIDA SERIES
– Miami’s pitching staff had another good weekend. Despite posting a 4.33 ERA on the weekend, UM pitchers held the Gators to a .184 batting average and struck out 35 batters in 27 innings, while walking just eight batters.
– Junior center fielder Blake Tekotte led UM on the weekend hitting .545 (6-for-11) with six runs scored, a home run and two RBI.
– Junior first baseman Yonder Alonso hit .400 against the Gators with three RBI and two doubles. He walked three times.
– Junior second baseman Jemile Weeks had four hits in the series including a double and his second home run of the season. He matched Alonso with a team-best three RBI.
– Sophomore catcher Jason Hagerty batted .429 (3-for7) in two games against the Gators. He scored four runs, added a double and a RBI.
– Freshman lefty Chris Hernandez continued his good start for the Hurricanes. He struck out seven in six innings and allowed just one earned run on two hits.
– Redshirt junior pitcher Carlos Gutierrez earned his third save of the season in game two of the series. He made two appearances and registered four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. On the season, Gutierrez has made four appearances and hasn’t allowed a hit. He has six strikeouts on the season.
– Sophomore reliever Kyle Bellamy appeared twice against the Gators and struck out three in 1 2/3 innings. On the season, Bellamy has given up just one hit in 4 2/3 innings and recorded eight strikeouts.
– Miami out-hit Florida, 25-18, which included nine extra-base hits.
– Sophomore lefty Eric Erickson improved to 2-0 on the season with the win in the series opener. He no-hit the Gators for five innings. He ended up tossing 62/3 innings and striking out nine. He allowed four runs on four hits.
HURRICANES IN THE POLLS
Miami moved up to No. 6 in the latest USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll and has moved up to No. 8 in both the Baseball America and National Collegiate Baseball Writer’s Association (NCBWA) polls. The Hurricanes are also ranked No. 2 by Rivals.com and No. 16 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Perfect Game Crosschecker has the Hurricanes No. 3 in its poll.
ABOUT THE LEHIGHMOUNTAIN HAWKS
Lehigh (4-5) is in the midst of a seven-game road trip in South Florida. The Mountain Hawks have won two of their three games in the Palm Beach Challenge, where they have defeated BostonCollege, 16-14, in 10 innings and St. Bonaventure, 7-6. Lehigh has won four of their last five games since opening the season with four road losses at No. 17 Virginia. The Mountain Hawks are led by center fielder Joe Ercalono, who is hitting .346 while tying for team-best nine hits including two doubles and five RBI. Ercolano is alos 7-of-8 in stolen base attempts. Right fielder Billy Goldman also has nine hits while batting .300 with a team-high seven RBI. Sophomore right-hander Andrew Berger will start for the Mountain Hawks. Berger is 2-1 with a 9.72 ERA.
ALL-TIME SERIES MIAMI vs. LEHIGH
This is the first ever meeting between the Hurricanes and Mountain Hawks.