No. 9 Miami Travels to Blacksburg to Take on Virginia Tech
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The ninth-ranked University of Miami baseball will look to extend its seven-game winning streak this weekend when the Hurricanes make their northernmost trip of the year to take on No. 25 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., April 9-11 at English Field. Game one of the three-game series is slated for Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Miami (22-7, 10-2 ACC) and Virginia Tech (21-10, 6-6 ACC) come in as two of the hottest teams in the league, with both teams having won eight of their last 10 overall. The Hurricanes are coming off a series sweep of Wake Forest before taking a pair of games against FAU in the mid-week. The Hokies pulled off a big upset last weekend, taking two-of-three from then-No. 4 Florida State in Tallahassee before knocking off North Carolina Central on Tuesday.
The series will feature some of the league’s top starters, including aces Chris Hernandez (4-2, 2.45 ERA) and Jesse Hahn (4-2, 2.23 ERA). Hernandez is coming off one of his best starts of the year, allowing just one earned while striking out seven in seven innings against the Demon Deacons. In addition to Hernandez’s success on Fridays, fellow weekend starters Eric Erickson (2-1, 3.12 ERA) and Jason Santana (3-1, 4.46 ERA) have also pitched well through the first month of league play. Hernandez, Erickson and Santana have combined to allow three earned runs or less in 11 of 12 starts in league play thus far, while the three are a combined 7-1 with a 2.44 ERA in ACC play.
Miami’s offense has averaged over nine runs and 13 hits per game in its last six contests and has been led by Yasmani Grandal, who has 16 RBI in UM’s last eight games – including four on Wednesday against FAU. Grandal, who leads the team in hitting (.396), RBI (31), total bases (74), slugging percentage (.667) and on-base percentage (.507), has hit four of his five homers in UM’s last eight contests.
The Hurricanes bullpen – anchored by underclassmen E.J. Encinosa (1-0, 1.78 ERA), Daniel Miranda (2-1, 2.19 ERA) and Eric Whaley (3-0, 3.92 ERA) – has been the story in the first half however.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
GAME 30: FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 5:30 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – LHP Chris Hernandez (4-2, 2.45) @ VIRGINIA TECH – LHP Justin Wright (4-3, 3.95)
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM
GAME 31: SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – LHP Eric Erickson (2-1, 3.12) @ VIRGINIA TECH – RHP Mathew Price (4-1, 4.26)
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM
TV: FS Florida
GAME 32: SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 12 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – RHP Jason Santana (3-1, 4.46) @ VIRGINIA TECH – RHP Jesse Hahn (4-2, 2.23)
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM
VIRGINIA TECH REPORT
The Hokies (21-10, 6-6 ACC) are one of the hottest teams in the league having won eight of their last 10 games – including a series win over then-No. 4 Florida State in Tallahassee last weekend. Austin Wates was named NCBWA National Hitter of the Week after he hit .476 with a pair of homers, 10 RBI and eight runs scored on the week. Wates leads the team in average (.436) and RBI (30), while Steve Domecus provides the most power on the Virginia Tech roster, holding team-highs for homers (8) and doubles (12). Wates has 10 of the team’s 30 stolen bases this year. Jesse Hahn (4-2, 2.23 ERA) is the ace of the Hokies’ staff, while Justin Wright (4-3, 3.95) and Mathew Price (4-1, 4.26) are also off to good starts. Closer Ben Rowen (19 appearances) has been one of the top relievers in the league through the season’s first half, allowing just two earned runs while striking out 34 in 22 2/3 innings thus far.
MIAMI-VIRGINIA TECH ALL-TIME SERIES
Miami owns a 13-2 advantage in the all-time series with Virginia Tech, including wins in all five weekend series since the team’s joined the ACC in 2005. Last year, Miami won two-of-three in Coral Gables. The `Canes are 8-1 all-time against the Hokies in the state of Virginia.
AFTER VIRGINIA TECH
The Hurricanes will remain on the road for a mid-week game at Florida Gulf Coast in Ft. Myers on Wednesday, April 14 before returning to Alex Rodriguez Park next weekend to play to North Carolina in a three-game series, April 16-18.
`CANES VS. THE HOKIES
Scott Lawson and Harold Martinez hit well last year against the Hokies, going a combined 11-for-25 in the three-game series in Coral Gables. Lawson went a team-best 6-for-12 with three stolen bases while Martinez went 5-for-13 with a home run. Yasmani Grandal smacked two homers and had a team-high 10 total bases against Virginia Tech last year. Chris Hernandez has two career wins against the Hokies, allowing three earned runs in a combined 13 innings over the last two years.
ACC START
The 2010 season marks the sixth season the `Canes have played in the Atlantic Coast Conference and this year’s 10-2 start is among the best starts UM has jumped out to in conference play. Miami’s 10 wins this year in the most the `Canes have tallied through four league series in six years, while its .833 winning percentage against ACC opponents trails only the 2008 team’s .900 percentage (9-1).
COASTAL DIVISION UPDATE
Miami is currently in a battle with Georgia Tech for the lead in the ACC’s Coastal Division. The Yellow Jackets currently sit in first at 11-1, followed by the `Canes just a game back at 10-2. From there, Virginia is third at 8-4, Virginia Tech is fourth at 6-6, North Carolina is fifth at 4-8 and Duke is last at 3-9. This upcoming weekend, the `Canes travel to Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech travels to Virginia, North Carolina hosts NC State while Duke plays host to Clemson.
