`Canes to Host Fordham in a Pair of Mid-Week Contests
March 15, 2010
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The 11th-ranked University of Miami baseball team will host its first two mid-week home games of the season this week when Fordham visits Alex Rodriguez Park on Tuesday, March 16 and Wednesday, March 17. Both games are slated to start at 6 p.m.
The Hurricanes (10-4, 2-1 ACC) won their first Atlantic Coast Conference series of the season this past weekend, taking two-of-three from Boston College in Coral Gables. Despite averaging over nine runs per game offensively last week, the pitching staff has really carried the `Canes as of late, allowing just seven earned runs over its last 38 innings. UM’s starters have held their opponents to three earned runs or less over the last eight games while the bullpen has not allowed an earned run over the last 16 2/3 innings.
Junior catcher Yasmani Grandal improved his average from .306 to .392 over the past week, recording multiple hits in three of UM’s last four games, including a 4-for-4 performance in Sunday’s win over BC. Grandal, who leads the team with a .522 on-base percentage, went 7-for-11 with a homer, three doubles and four runs scored in UM’s three games against the Eagles. Frankie Ratcliff has started UM’s last five games – including four straight at second base – and led the `Canes with eight RBI last week.
Chris Pelaez had a pair of hits on Sunday and continues to lead the team in hitting (.426) and slugging (.702). Harold Martinez (.308) leads the club in homers (4) and is tied for the team-lead in RBI (13).
Freshman left-hander Steven Ewing is slated to take the mound for the `Canes on Tuesday, while fellow freshman lefty Jerad Grundy will go on Wednesday. Ewing is 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA in two mid-week starts thus far while Grundy, who started against the Marlins a few weeks ago, will make his first official collegiate start for the `Canes.
MID-WEEK SCHEDULE
GAME 15: TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 6 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – LHP Steven Ewing vs. FORDHAM – RHP Brian Pendergast
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM
GAME 16: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 6 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – LHP Jerad Grundy vs. FORDHAM – RHP John Flanagan
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM
FORDHAM REPORT
The Rams come into this week with a record of 3-10 overall – including a mark of 0-9 away from home. This past weekend, Fordham was swept by Pittsburgh in West Palm Beach, falling 10-1 on Saturday and 13-0 and 10-3 in a double-header on Sunday. Chris Walker is the team’s top hitter, coming in hitting .385 with team-high for RBI (13), doubles (6) and slugging percentage (.500). Mike Mobbs (.289) as Fordham’s lone homer this year and has a team-high 10 runs scored. Nick Martinez and P.J. Como are tied for the team-lead with four stolen bases. Brian Pendergrast (0-1, 5.23) leads the team with 18 striketouts while Max Krakowiak (0-2, 4.64) has logged a staff-high 21 1/3 innings. Reliever Brando Casalicchio has a save and has yet to allow an earned run in four appearances (6 2/3 IP).
MIAMI-FORDHAM ALL-TIME SERIES
Miami is a perfect 8-0 all-time against Fordham dating back to 1984. The last time the two teams met, the Hurricanes swept the Rams in a three-game series in Coral Gables in 2007. UM has averaged 10 runs per game against Fordham all-time, including scoring 32 runs in the 2007 series.
AFTER FORDHAM
Miami will make its first weekend road trip of the 2010 season when the Hurricanes head to Durham, N.C. to take on Duke in a three-game series, March 19-21. All three games will be played at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park – home of last year’s Atlantic Coast Conference Championship. Game times against the Blue Devils are set for 6 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
BULLPEN ON A ROLL
The `Canes bullpen has been the team’s most consistent unit as of late, combining to allow just one earned run in the last five games. Eight different relievers have combined to hold UCF and Boston College scoreless last week as Daniel Miranda (3.0 IP), E.J. Encinosa (2.1), Joe Lovecchio (2.0), Eric Whaley (2.0), Sam Robinson (1.2), David Gutierrez (1.0), Jerad Grundy (1.0) and Taylor Wulf (1.0) turned in a combined 11 scoreless outings. Gutierrez (1-0, three saves) continues to pitch well in the back of UM’s bullpen, having yet to allow an earned run in six appearances this season.
POLL UPDATE
After going 3-1 last week, the `Canes moved up in two of the four major polls released Monday, jumping from No. 13 to No. 11 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll and No. 20 to No. 17 in Baseball America’s poll. In the other two, Miami remained the same this week, staying at No. 14 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll and No. 15 in the Collegiate Baseball poll.
TICKET INFO
Single game and season tickets are currently available for the 2010 University of Miami baseball 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.
