No. 11 Miami Hosts Virginia Tech in Final ACC Home Series
April 23, 2009
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – After spending the last two weekends on the road, the 11th-ranked University of Miami baseball team returns home to host Virginia Tech, April 24-26, in the team’s final Atlantic Coast Conference home series of the season. The Hurricanes (27-13, 11-10), who have eight home games and six road contests remaining on their 2009 regular season slate, are coming off a 13-7 win over Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday.
Miami is coming off a stretch in which it played 16 games against ranked opponents in a span of 31 days from March 20 to April 19. Miami has faced a Top 25 team in each of the last five weekends, facing No. 7 Virginia, No. 3 Georgia Tech, No. 23 Florida State, No. 20 Clemson and No. 4 North Carolina this past weekend.
Despite three strong outings from starting pitchers Chris Hernandez, David Gutierrez and Iden Nazario, UM dropped three close low-scoring games against the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill this past weekend. On the season, the Hurricanes have won six-of-nine weekend series, including series wins at No. 12 Florida, at No. 7 Virginia, and home against No. 23 Florida State.
While Scott Lawson and Jason Hagerty continue to lead UM at the plate, senior outfielder Dave DiNatale has been the team’s hottest hitter as of late, hitting .462 (6-for-13) with a homer, four RBI, 11 total bases and a .846 slugging percentage since the start of the UNC series.
Closer Kyle Bellamy, who has appeared in five of UM’s last six games, comes in with a league-high 10 saves and team-best 1.50 ERA. Bellamy is also second on the team in strikeouts, having recorded 47 in 30 innings.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
GAME 41: FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 7 P.M.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – LHP Chris Hernandez (4-3, 5.50 ERA) vs. VT – RHP Rhett Ballard (5-2, 4.08 ERA)
RADIO: 560 WQAM, 90.5 WVUM
GAME 42: SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 7 P.M.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – RHP David Gutierrez (2-4, 3.80 ERA) vs. VT- LHP Justin Wright (4-1, 3.45 ERA)
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM
TV: CSS
GAME 43: SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 1 P.M.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – LHP Iden Nazario (4-2, 6.28 ERA) vs. VT – RHP Mathew Price (3-2, 5.90 ERA)
RADIO: 1450 ESPN DEPORTES, 90.5 WVUM
INTERNET VIDEO: ACC SELECT
VIRGINIA TECH REPORT
The Hokies (24-15) enter the weekend having dropped their last three games, including two mid-week games against William & Mary and Liberty. This past weekend, Virginia Tech took two-of-three from Clemson in Blacksburg, winning 5-2 and 7-3 before falling in Sunday’s finale, 8-1.
Steve Domescus (.414) is the ACC’s second-leading hitter behind Florida State’s Tyler Holt (.420). Domecus owns the team’s best offensive numbers across the board, with team-highs in at-bats (140), hits (58), RBI (42), total bases (83), slugging percentage (.593) and on-base percentage (.482). Steve Bumbrey leads the Hokies in both runs (40) and homers (9) while Austin Wates leads the team with 12 stolen bases.
Friday starter Rhett Ballard (5-2, 4.08) leads the team in starts (10), innings pitched (57.1) and strikeouts (50) while Saturday starter Justin Wright (4-1, 3.45) and Sunday starter Mathew Price (3-2, 5.90) have made eight and seven starts respectively.
MIAMI vs. VIRGINIA TECH
The Hurricanes are 11-1 all-time against the Hokies, with all 12 meetings coming since 2005. The two teams have only met three times in Coral Gables, with UM sweeping a three-game series at home in 2006. Last season, the `Canes took two-of-three in Blacksburg, splitting the first two games before a 9-2 win on Sunday secured Miami’s fourth straight series win since the two teams joined the ACC.
AFTER VT
After the Virginia Tech series this weekend, the `Canes will play a pair of mid-week games against North Florida (4/28) and Florida Gulf Coast (4/29) before heading back out on the road for a weekend series at Boston College (5/1-3).
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS FOR ACC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ON SALE
Individual ticket sales for the 2009 ACC Baseball Championship are now on sale. The five-day tournament opens Wednesday, May 20, at Durham Bulls Athletic Park and will conclude with Sunday afternoon’s championship game on May 24. Full-tournament passes (all 13 games) are already on sale for $120 apiece and may be purchased by calling (919) 956-BULL or by accessing the 2009 Baseball Championship link at www.theacc.com. Individual tickets may also be purchased by calling that number or accessing that web site.
ACC UPDATE
The Hurricanes are one of eight ACC teams with double-digit league wins. Georgia Tech leads the Coastal Division with a league record of 13-5 while Florida State sits atop the Atlantic Division at 12-7. Six ACC teams are currently ranked in the Top 25 in this week’s polls, including UM, Georgia Tech, FSU, North Carolina, Virginia and Clemson.
JACK MCLINTON TO THROW OUT FIRST PITCH
Jack McClinton, the University of Miami’s all-time leader in career three-pointers (286) and career three-point field goal percentage (.440), is set to throw out the first pitch of Friday night’s 7 p.m. game between UM and Virginia Tech at Alex Rodriguez Park. McClinton, a two-time All-ACC First Team selection, is the league’s all-time leader in three-point field goal percentage (.440).
HERNANDEZ, GRANDAL NAMED TO 2009 USA BASEBALL NATIONAL TRIALS
University of Miami sophomores Chris Hernandez and Yasmani Grandal have been named to a list of 17 initial invitees to the 2009 USA Baseball National Team Trials, as announced by USA Baseball on Tuesday. The National Team Trials, which will be held at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C., June 15-24, will be comprised of 36 collegiate players vying for a spot on the final 22-man roster to be announced on June 24.
UM TO SALUTE COAST GUARD, COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
The University of Miami will salute the men and women of the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary during Saturday’s game at Alex Rodriguez Park. Throughout the UM and Virginia Tech game, public announcements will be made recognizing the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary for their service to the U.S. as well as boating safety messages. To kick off the game, Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Jennifer Pick of Air Station Miami will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” There will also be a flyover from a Coast Guard Air Station Miami helicopter crew, performances from the U.S. Coast Guard Pipe Band, and the Coast Guard Station Miami Beach, Fla., Color Guard. Coast Guard members will throw the ceremonial first pitches.
