No. 20 Miami Baseball to Host Appalachian State
Feb. 23, 2011
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami baseball team, ranked No. 20 in the latest poll, plays at FAU tonight before returning home to host Appalachian State on Thursday, Feb. 24, inside Alex Rodriguez Park for a three-game set.
Miami (2-1) is set to play five games in five days, including an exhibition contest against the Florida Marlins in Jupiter, Fla., on Sunday, Feb. 27. The Hurricanes opened the 2011 campaign with a 2-1 series victory over Rutgers in Coral Gables, and now prepares to play Florida Atlantic and Appalachian State over the course of the next four days, beginning with tonight’s road trip to Boca Raton to face to Owls.
In fact, the Hurricanes will be playing six games in seven days, added a road trip to face the University of South Florida at George H. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa on Tuesday, March 1, at 4 p.m. The contest is set to be televised by CSS, and is part of “The Florida Four” where Florida State and Florida will meet in the nightcap of the two-game event.
Miami is led offensively by sophomore left fielder Zeke DeVoss carrying a .364 average at the plate, including three extra base hits in four hits overall. The Mims, Fla., speedster has the team’s only triple of the campaign, which ultimately led to the game-winning run driven in on a long sacrifice fly by sophomore shortstop Stephen Perez in the season-opener. Behind DeVoss is freshman first baseman Brad Fieger with a .333 average after going 3-for-4 at the dish in Sunday’s series finale against the Scarlet Knights.
The Miami defense has been almost flawless in the first three games of the year, collecting a .993 fielding percentage with 90 putouts and 44 assists in 135 total opportunities. The only error of the year came by way of a failed pickoff.
Speed has also played a part in this year’s early success, using nine stolen bases on 11 attempts thus far. UMiami head coach Jim Morris, now enjoying his 18th year as head coach in Coral Gables, has always preached speed and “small ball”, and he is getting solid production on both fronts at this juncture in the year. Junior centerfielder Nathan Melendres leads all Hurricanes with four stolen bases on four attempts, followed closely by sophomore outfielder Chantz Mack who is a perfect 2-for-2 on attempts.
Appalachian State enters Thursday’s meeting with a 4-0 record after collecting wins over Gardner-Webb and Maryland-Eastern Shore. The Mountaineers are hitting .362 as a team, while being led at the plate by Tyler Zupcic hitting a team-best .545, adding six hits (three doubles), two RBI and three runs scored. Zupcic is also 2-for-2 on stolen bases. Following him at the dish is Zack Briggs hitting an even .500, producing five hits (two doubles), two RBI and four runs.
The Mountaineers’ pitching staff carries a team ERA of 0.50 into the three-game road trip in Coral Gables, as three of the four starting pitchers thus far have allowed a combined one earned run in 23 1/3 innings on the hill. Between the four pitchers, they have 21 strikeouts, six walks and have used the bullpen to combine for three shutouts.
Miami leads the all-time series against Appalachian State, 1-0, with the only other meeting between the two teams taking place in an NCAA Regional back on May 27, 1973. UM took that contest by a score of 13-6 in Starkville, Miss.
For ticket information for the 2011 baseball season, call 1-800-GO-CANES or visit Hurricanesports.com.
Live stats for the game will be provided through Game Tracker at HurricaneSports.com. Fans can also join the live chat, provided by Cover It Live, by visiting HurricaneSports.com as well.
Baseball: Miami vs. Appalachian State
For more information on the University of Miami baseball team, please log on to HurricaneSports.com. To follow the UM Baseball Team via twitter, please navigate to Twitter.com/CanesBaseball. You can also access the official UMiami Baseball blog at TheUBaseball.com.
You can keep up-to-date with all UM Athletics via twitter at Twitter.com/HurricaneSports. You can also become a fan of the ‘Canes on Facebook at Facebook.com/MiamiHurricanes.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
GAME 1: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 7 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – LHP Bryan Radziewski vs. ASU – RHP Nathan Hyatt
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM
GAME 2: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 7 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – RHP E.J. Encinosa vs. ASU – LHP Lawrence Pardo
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM
GAME 3: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – RHP Eric Whaley vs. ASU – RHP Seth Grant
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM
