No. 13 Miami Returns Home this Weekend to Face No. 21 UNC
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The 13th-ranked University of Miami baseball team – winners of four of their first five weekend series in Atlantic Coast Conference play – will play host to No. 21 North Carolina in a three-game series beginning Friday, April 16 at 8 p.m. at Alex Rodriguez Park.
The Hurricanes improved to 24-9 on Wednesday, picking up their ninth win in their last 11 games with a 9-0 shut-out victory over Florida Gulf Coast at Hammond Stadium in Ft. Myers. Senior right-hander David Gutierrez turned in possibly his best performance as a `Cane in just his second start of the year, tossing seven perfect innings before being pulled after his pitch count reached into the mid-80’s. While the perfect game was broken up in the eighth, Eric Whaley and Daniel Miranda eventually combined with Gutierrez to toss the first one-hitter by the `Canes since Scott Maine and Jon McLean accomplished the feat against Wake Forest on May 12, 2006.
Since the start of the NC State series three weeks back, junior catcher Yasmani Grandal has not only been the hottest hitter in the ACC, but possibly the country. Grandal, who easily leads the ACC hitters with a .476 average in league play, has recorded multiple hits in 10 of his last 13 games and is one of three `Canes riding a seven-game hitting streak coming into the weekend. Chris Pelaez and Nathan Melendres, who is 20-for-57 in UM’s last 15 games, also had seven-game hit streaks going.
Junior left-handers Chris Hernandez and Eric Erickson and senior senior right-hander Jason Santana are right behind Grandal in terms of individual impact on Miami’s fast start in league play. The trio has allowed three earned runs or less in 13 of 15 league starts and is a combined 8-2 with a 2.84 ERA in ACC play. Santana is 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA in league play, while Erickson has allowed just two earned runs over his last three starts (17 2/3 IP). Relievers E.J. Encinosa (1-0, 2.05) and Daniel Miranda (2-1, 2.28) continue to lead the staff in ERA, while Sam Robinson (8.1 IP, 12 appearances) has yet to allow an earned run.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
GAME 34: FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 8 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
UNC – RHP Matt Harvey (4-1, 2.08) @ MIAMI – LHP Chris Hernandez (4-2, 3.08)
TV: CSS
RADIO: 560 WQAM, 1450 ESPN DEPORTES, 90.5 WVUM
GAME 35: SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 7 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
UNC- RHP Chris Munnelly (1-0, 5.23) @ MIAMI – LHP Eric Erickson (3-1, 2.81)
TV: CSS
RADIO: 560 WQAM, 90.5 WVUM
GAME 36: SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 1 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
UNC – RHP Patrick Johnson (3-3, 3.13) @ MIAMI – RHP Jason Santana (3-2, 4.46)
TV: CSS
RADIO: 560 WQAM, 90.5 WVUM
UNC REPORT
UNC enters the weekend with a record of 22-13 overall and 6-9 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. The Tar Heels won two out of three at home against rival NC State this past weekend before falling to Coastal Carolina on Wednesday, 12-4. Jesse Wierzbicki leads UNC in most offensive categories, including average (.355), homers (7) and RBI (39). Levi Michael is the Tar Heels top threat on the base paths, leading the team in steals (12) and runs scored (40). The pitching staff in anchored by ace Matt Harvey, who is 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA in eight starts this year. Harvey has struck out a team-high 54 in 52 innings of work while holding opponents to a .197 average against him – the second-best mark in the league. Patrick Johnson (3-3, 3.18 ERA) has also pitched well in seven starts, while reliever Michael Morin leads the team in wins (5) and saves (3) despite a 5.24 ERA.
MIAMI-UNC ALL-TIME SERIES
North Carolina owns a slight 20-19-1 advantage in the all-time series between the `Canes and Tar Heels. UNC has had the upper hand since the `Canes joined the ACC however, having won nine of the last 10 meetings – including five straight – against UM. Last year, the Tar Heels swept a three-game series versus the `Canes in Chapel Hill. Two years ago in Coral Gables, UNC handed the 2008 Hurricanes their only series loss of the season, picking up a pair of wins at Mark Light Field to close out the regular season for both teams.
AFTER UNC
The Hurricanes will remain at Alex Rodriguez Park for a mid-week game against Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday, April 20 before visiting rival FSU for a three-game series in Tallahassee beginning Friday, April 23.
1985 REUNION ON SATURDAY
Thirty-two members of the University of Miami’s 1985 National Championship team will be recognized prior to Saturday night’s game on the 25th anniversary of UM’s second national championship. Head coach Ron Fraser, along with stars Greg Ellena and Kevin Sheary and most of the staff and players from the team will be in attendance at Alex Rodriguez Park for a pre-game reception prior to game two of the series with the Tar Heels. The 1985 `Canes rallied from out of the loser’s bracket at the CWS, beating Texas twice in the end to win the title. Ellena was named CWS MVP while Sheary was the winning pitcher in three of UM’s five wins in the series.
GUTIERREZ THRIVING IN NEW ROLE
After spending the first half of the year in the closer’s role for the `Canes, senior right-hander David Gutierrez has made the transition to the starting rotation and has been lights out since. In two starts, Gutierrez has allowed just four hits while striking out 10 in 11 scoreless innings. His ERA has dropped from 7.62 to 4.12 after moving to the rotation, and has picked up wins in each of his starts. On Wednesday at FGCU, Gutierrez tossed seven perfect innings, retiring the first 21 batters with six ground-outs, seven strikeouts and eight fly-outs before being pulled after throwing 84 pitches – 21 more than he had thrown in a game all season.
`CANES VS. UNC
Friday starter Chris Hernandez has had the most success against UNC in his career than any of the current `Canes. Hernandez earned the win in UM’s last victory over UNC, striking out seven while allowing just two runs in seven innings of work as a freshman in 2008. Last year, Hernandez was tagged with the loss but struck out six and allowed just two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings in Chapel Hill. Daniel Miranda tossed two scoreless in two outings last year, while Nathan Melendres, Harold Martinez and Scott Lawson all had a pair of hits against the Heels in 2009.
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 12-3, followed by the `Canes just a game back at 11-4. From there, Virginia is third at 10-5, Virginia Tech is fourth at 8-7, North Carolina is fifth at 6-9 and Duke is last at 5-10. This upcoming weekend, the `Canes play host to UNC, Virginia Tech visits Virginia, Georgia Tech welcomes Clemson to Atlanta and Duke hosts Florida State in Cary.
TICKET INFO
Tickets are currently available for the 2010 University of Miami season. Single game prices start as low as $10, while group packages are also available. For more information or to order your tickets for `Canes baseball, visit www.hurricanesports.com or call 1-800-GO-CANES.
