Miami Baseball Earns Second Top 15 Ranking

Jan. 29, 2010

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami baseball team earned its second-highest ranking of the 2010 preseason on Friday, coming in it at No. 13 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Poll. The Hurricanes have now been ranked in the Top 20 each of the first three preseason polls released thus far.

Led by 17th-year head coach Jim Morris, the `Canes will open the 2010 season in exactly three weeks when they play host to Rutgers in a three-game series from Feb. 19-21 at Alex Rodriguez Park.

The Hurricanes are one of six teams ranked in the Top 15 in the poll, with Virginia coming in at No. 4, Florida State at No. 5, Georgia Tech at No. 10, North Carolina at No. 11 and Clemson at No. 15. The same six ACC teams have been ranked in the Top 20 in all three polls released thus far.

Texas earned the top spot, followed by LSU and Cal State Fullerton.

Miami returns 17 letterwinners from last year’s team that reached an NCAA record 37th-straight NCAA Tournament. The 2010 `Canes will be led by preseason All-America catcher Yasmani Grandal, All-ACC pitchers Eric Erickson and Chris Hernandez, as well as All-ACC second baseman Scott Lawson. In addition the players returning, Miami welcomes 14 newcomers to this year’s squad – a group that includes six pitchers, four infielders, three outfielders and a catcher.

The `Canes 56-game 2010 slate features an exhibition contest against the Florida Marlins in Jupiter on March 3, 19 games against 2009 NCAA Tournament teams, 36 games at Alex Rodriguez Park and a total of 44 games played inside the state of Florida.

For ticket information for the 2010 baseball season, call 1-800-GO-CANES or visit www.hurricanesports.com.