No. 2 Miami to Host Crucial ACC Series Versus No. 3 Georgia Tech
March 26, 2009
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The second-ranked University of Miami baseball team – winners of 14 of their last 15 ACC series – is set to host No. 3 Georgia Tech in a battle of two Top 5 teams this weekend at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.
The Hurricanes (19-5, 7-2 ACC) are coming off a 13-6 win over FAU in Boca Raton on Wednesday, while the Yellow Jackets (16-3, 6-1 ACC) were rained out on Wednesday against rival Georgia. First pitch of the series is set for 7 p.m. Friday night with game two set for Saturday at 7 p.m. and the finale slated Sunday at 1 p.m. All three games will be televised live by CSS.
UM’s Saturday starter – David Gutierrez (2-1) – has proven to be one of the league’s top starters thus far, having not allowed more than one earned run in any of his five starts this season. In 30 2/3 innings, Gutierrez has given up just three earned runs while he is holding his opponents to just a .196 batting average against him.
Miami’s closer – Kyle Bellamy – and set-up man – Taylor Wulf – have a combined ERA of just 0.60 this season, with the pair allowing just a combined two earned runs in 29 2/3 innings (22 combined appearances).
Bellamy, who leads the team in ERA (0.56) and saves (6), has struck out 25 in 16 innings while allowing opponents to hit just .175 against him. Wulf, who earned his first two wins of the season at No. 7 Virginia, owns a 0.66 ERA while striking out 16 in 13 2/3 innings.
Scott Lawson, who enters the series hitting a team-best .352, has been UM’s most consistent hitter all season. Lawson, who also leads the team in hits (32), doubles (10) and total bases (47), is hitting .375 with 10 runs scored since moving into the lead-off spot seven games back against St. Thomas on March 17.
Yasmani Grandal leads the Hurricanes with six homers, while Harold Martinez has a team-high 22 RBI and Chris Herrmann has a team-best 24 runs scored.
Friday’s game marks the first of eight straight home games for the Hurricanes.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
GAME 25: FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 7 P.M.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – LHP Chris Hernandez (2-1, 4.76 ERA) vs. GT – RHP Deck McGuire (4-0, 1.87 ERA)
TV: CSS
RADIO: 560 WQAM, 1450 ESPN DEPORTES, 90.5 WVUM
GAME 26: SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 7 P.M.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – RHP David Gutierrez (2-1, 0.88 ERA) vs. GT – RHP Zach Von Tersch (4-1, 6.26 ERA)
TV: CSS
RADIO: 560 WQAM, 90.5 WVUM
GAME 27: SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 1 P.M.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – LHP Iden Nazario (2-0, 6.14 ERA) vs. GT – RHP Kevin Jacob (4-0, 1.69 ERA)
TV: CSS
RADIO: 560 WQAM, 1450 ESPN DEPORTES, 90.5 WVUM
GEORGIA TECH REPORT
The Yellow Jackets enter this weekend’s series coming off a series win over Virginia Tech and mid-week loss to Georgia State. Georgia Tech was slated to play Georgia in Atlanta on Wednesday but the first of two meetings between the two rivals was rained out.
Matt Skole leads the Jackets in a number of offensive categories, including batting average (.387), home runs (7), total bases (57), slugging percentage (.760), in addition to tying for the team-lead in doubles (7) while ranking second in hits (29). Tony Plagman (.380, 6 HR, 29 RBI) is Tech’s other top offensive threat. As a team, six regulars are hitting better than .320.
Friday night starter Deck McGuire has been the team’s most effective pitcher through the first third of the season, going 4-0 with a 1.87 ERA in five starts. McGuire leads the team with 41 strikeouts and has walked just nine in 33 2/3 innings. Zach Von Tersch (4-1, 6.26 ERA) is slated to start on Saturday while Kevin Jacob (4-0, 1.69 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound on Sunday.
As a staff, the Yellow Jackets own a 3.73 ERA. Closer Mark Pope is 2-0 with five saves and has struck out six, walked three and allowed three runs on eight hits in nine innings of work.
MIAMI vs. GEORGIA TECH
Miami owns a 44-22 edge in the all-time series versus Georgia Tech, including wins in each of the last six meetings. Last year, the Hurricanes won all four meetings, including three in Atlanta and one in Jacksonville at the ACC Tournament. The last time the Yellow Jackets came to Coral Gables, Miami won two-of-three.
AFTER GEORGIA TECH
The Hurricanes will continue their homestand with a mid-week game against Barry University on Wednesday, April 1 before playing host to in-state rival Florida State, April 3-5, at Alex Rodriguez Park.
RELIABLE RELIEF
UM’s bullpen continues to be the story through the first half of the season, as UM relievers have a combined 2.06 ERA (22 earned runs in 96 innings) through the first 24 games. All-American closer Kyle Bellamy and set-up man Taylor Wulf anchor the bullpen, with the pair combining to allow just two earned runs in 29 2/3 innings. Bellamy has proven to be one of the nation’s top closers through the first month of the season, coming into the weekend with a perfect 3-0 record to go along with a league-high six saves. In 16 innings this season, the Davie, Fla. native has allowed just one run on 10 hits while striking out 25.
`CANES IN TOP 5 IN THREE POLLS
After taking two-of-three at No. 7 Virginia over the weekend, the University of Miami baseball team is now ranked in the Top 5 in three of five major college baseball polls, including as high as No. 2 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. The `Canes also moved up to from No. 7 to No. 4 in the USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches poll and from No. 8 to No. 5 in the Rivals.com poll. UM also jumped from No. 9 to No. 6 in the Collegiate Baseball poll, while Baseball America moved the `Canes up from No. 11 to No. 7 this week.
ADDITIONAL SEATING
With back-to-back home weekends ahead against Georgia Tech and Florida State, temporary bleachers have been brought into Alex Rodriguez Park to accommodate more seating. For ticket information, call 1-800-GO-CANES.
