No. 10 Miami Plays Host to Manhattan this Weekend
Feb. 25, 2010
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The 10th-ranked University of Miami baseball team is set to host Manhattan College this weekend at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field on the second weekend of four straight home weekend series to open the 2010 season. Game times are set for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
Miami (3-0) is coming off a sweep of Rutgers last past weekend in a three-game series that saw the Hurricanes score 31 runs – the most for a UM team in its first three games since 2006. Junior college transfer Chris Pelaez led the `Canes offensive attack, going 8-for-11 with a homer, two doubles, four RBI and four runs scored in his first three games as a Hurricane. Sophomore clean-up hitter David Villasuso also had a big weekend in his first three games as a full-time starter, hitting two homers on Sunday and collecting a team-high seven RBI on the weekend. The Hurricanes were a perfect 10-for-10 on the base paths against the Scarlet Knights, as sophomore rightfielder Nathan Melendres and freshman shortstop Stephen Perez combined for seven stolen bases.
The UM pitching staff also got off to a strong start, and it started with junior left-hander Eric Erickson, who allowed just two hits and no earned runs in 5 2/3 innings on Friday to earn the victory in his first outing in over 20 months. Senior right-hander David Gutierrez also opened the year on an impressive note, picking up a save on Saturday and a win on Sunday in his first weekend as Miami’s full-time closer.
The three-game series against the Scarlet Knights drew 9,516 fans out to Alex Rodriguez Park – the highest total for a season-opening series in Coral Gables since 10,919 fans attended the 2004 opening series against Florida.
Miami will keep its rotation of LHP Erickson (Friday), LHP Chris Hernandez (Saturday) and RHP Jason Santana (Sunday) while Manhattan is expected to counter with RHP Mike Giordano, RHP Tom Costigan and LHP Mike Gazzola.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
GAME 4: FRIDAY, FEB. 26, 7 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – LHP Eric Erickson vs. MANHATTAN – RHP Mike Giordano
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM
GAME 5: SATURDAY, FEB. 27, 7 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – LHP Chris Hernandez vs. MANHATTAN – RHP Tom Costigan
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM, 1450 ESPN DEPORTES
GAME 6: SUNDAY, FEB. 28, 1 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – RHP Jason Santana vs. MANHATTAN – LHP Mike Gazzola
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM
MANHATTAN REPORT
The Jaspers will open their 2010 season this weekend against the Hurricanes. The majority of the players are back after a 35-18 campaign in 2009, including hitters Kevin Nieto and Mike McCann and pitchers Mike Gazzola and Tom Costigan. Nieto led the club in most offensive categories, including average (.396), runs (72), triples (6), homers (13), slugging percentage (.754), on-base percentage (.480) and stolen bases (25). Gazzola is the Jaspers’ top pitcher, coming off a year in which he went 7-1 with a 4.15 ERA and team-highs in games started (13), complete games (4) and innings pitched. Closer Tom Moran is back after a year in which he tallied six saves and had a 5-2 record in a team-high 24 appearances (all relief).
MIAMI-MANHATTAN ALL-TIME SERIES
The `Canes are 3-0 all-time against Manhattan, with all three wins coming during the 2006 season – once in Coral Gables during the regular season and twice in the Lincoln Regional later that year.
AFTER MANHATTAN
Miami will likely face one of its toughest five-game stretches of the 2010 season this upcoming week. On Tuesday, the `Canes will face USF at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa as a part of The Florida Four before traveling across the state to play an exhibition contest against MLB’s Florida Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter on Wednesday. Following those two mid-week contests, the Hurricanes will return to Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field to play host to rival Florida for a three-game series, March 5-7.
VILLASUSO GETS HIS CHANCE
Sophomore catcher David Villasuso, who garnered just 30 at-bats as a freshman last season, not only has worked his way into the line-up, but batted clean-up in each of Miami’s first three games. A combination of the loss of Jason Hagerty and a strong performance by Villasuso in the fall, and the Miami native has become UM’s No. 2 catcher and designated hitter. In his first weekend in his new role, Villasuso hit a pair of home runs on Sunday and finished the series with a team-high seven RBI and 11 total bases.
STEALING THE SHOW
Sophomore rightfielder Nathan Melendres had quite a weekend on the base paths against Rutgers, successfully stealing all four of his stolen base attempts. Last season, Melendres stole just seven bases in 59 games and didn’t steal his fourth until March 22 -21 games into the season. In total, the `Canes were a perfect 10-for-10 in stolen bases attempts against the Scarlet Knights.
EARLY SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS
After Miami plays wraps up its seven-game, season opening homestand this weekend with Manhattan, the `Canes open up the month of March with a number of big games in South Florida. On March 2, the `Canes will travel to Tampa to take on USF in the Florida Four tournament at George Steinbrenner Field – the spring training home for the New York Yankees. The next day, UM will play an exhibition contest against the Florida Marlins in Jupiter at Roger Dean Stadium. Following those two mid-week contests, Miami will play host to rival Florida for a three-game series, March 5-7 at Alex Rodriguez Park.
TICKET INFO
Single game and season tickets are currently available for the 2010 University of Miami season. Single game prices start as low as $10, while season tickets start at $100. Group packages are also available. For more information or to order your tickets for Hurricanes baseball, visit www.hurricanesports.com or call 1-800-GO-CANES.
