Hurricanes and Owls Set for Round Two
March 14, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format 
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – After falling 7-4 against Florida Atlantic on Feb. 23 in Boca Raton, the University of Miami baseball team looks to draw even with the Owls in the teams’ yearly three-game bounce series on Tuesday, March 15, at 6 p.m., at Alex Rodriguez Park in Coral Gables, Fla.
Miami (8-8) enters Tuesday’s affair riding a season-long three-game win streak, taking all three games of this past weekend’s Atlantic Coast Conference season-opening series with Virginia Tech. With the return of 18th-year head coach Jim Morris to the Hurricanes dugout, the `Canes went 4-1 last week, dropping their lone contest in 9-2 fashion to Illinois State on Wednesday, March 9, at Alex Rodriguez Park.
In a surprise move in the second game of this past weekend’s series, Morris moved Preseason All-American third baseman Harold Martinez from third base to first, switching him with freshman Brad Fieger. It marked the first time since 2009 the All-Atlantic Coast Conference performer stood on the first base bag, defensively. Prior to the move, the Miami native was hitting a career-low .156 with just seven hits and seven RBI. Following the move, Martinez has produced hits in his last four at-bats, and driven in four runs while laying down three sacrifice bunts in three attempts.
The preseason outlook for the `Canes was the starting pitching, but it has been productive in weekend series since the start of the year. In the Virginia Tech series, the UMiami starters had a combined ERA of 1.04, allowing just one earned run in 22 2/3 innings tossed. Collectively, the trio of Bryan Radziewski, E.J. Encinosa and Eric Whaley carved up the Hokies, allowing just 11 hits, one walk and striking out 18.
The Hurricanes bullpen picked up two saves from junior Sam Robinson and Daniel Miranda, each tossing an inning in the series.
Other than Martinez, three Hurricanes batted above .350, including a team-leading .455 average from junior outfielder Nathan Melendres – hitting .455 with five hits (two doubles and a triple) and four runs. Behind him was shortstop Stephen Perez with an even .400 average, driving in four runs on four hits and swiping a team-leading four steals on four attempts.
In the season’s only other meeting between the two South Florida schools, FAU jumped on UM starter Steven Ewing early, chasing the sophomore left-hander in just 4 1/3 innings. Despite spraying nine hits on the day, the `Canes left 10 men on base, and the Owls drove in seven runs on eight hits. Miami’s Rony Rodriguez hit his first home run of the year, but it wasn’t enough as FAU starter Ryan Garton allowed no runs on four hits and struck-out three in four innings, earning the victory due to working on a pitch count entering the game.
The Hurricanes will once again throw Steven Ewing on the hill tomorrow, while FAU counters with sophomore right-hander Jake Meiers. Ewing enters with a record of 0-1, and a 4.01 ERA in three starts. He earned his only decision in the FAU contest last month. Meiers of FAU owns a 1-2 record and a 2.79 ERA in four appearances – three of them starts.
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.
SCOUTING THE OWLS
The Owls of FAU enter Tuesday’s game hitting .300 as a team, while the FAU pitchers are limiting the opponent to just .286 hitting. Alex Hudak is the leading batter for the Owls with a .416 batting average – including a team-leading 24 hits and second-best 15 runs and 12 RBI. Andy Mee leads the power average with three homers, and Nick Delguidice bats .359 with a team-best eight doubles. Leading the nation a year ago in fielding percentage, the Owls field at .967 this year.
THE `CANES AND OWLS SERIES
UMiami leads the all-time series against FAU by a commanding 47-9 advantage. The Hurricanes swept all four games last year against the Owls. In the series, UMiami has taken seven of the last eight games (including seven consecutive before this season’s previous meeting in Boca Raton), and is a winner in 11 of the last 13 overall. FAU took this year’s previous game, 7-4, on strong hitting at FAU Baseball Stadium just under a month ago. UMiami head coach Jim Morris missed his first game of his career in that contest due to complications that eventually led to surgery.
AFTER THE FAU GAME
Miami will venture back into the nation’s second-toughest conference schedule – the Atlantic Coast Conference – with a weekend series at Wake Forest beginning on Friday, March 18, at 6 p.m. The games will take place in Winston-Salem, N.C., with WVUM having the call in all three games.
RUNS COME ACROSS
Sunday’s 11 runs scored against Virginia Tech in the series finale was the highest runs production for the Hurricanes all season. The previous high was 10 against Appalachian State in the series finale on February 26 – also a series finale for the Hurricanes. Both games featured pitcher Eric Whaley on the mound in career-long seven-inning outings.
FIRST OF TWO FOR FAU & MIAMI THIS WEEK
Not only will Miami and FAU face each other in baseball action Tuesday in Coral Gables, but the two schools will meet in men’s basketball postseason action as part of the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) at the BankUnited Center on the UM campus Wednesday, March 16. The UM men’s hoops team is making its fifth postseason appearance in seven years – four of them NIT bids – and made its last postseason appearance in 2009. The `Canes defeated Providence in the opening round of the 2009 NIT on the road, before falling to Florida in the Hurricanes’ next contest. This season, Miami has a No. 2 seed in the NIT, and would host a second round contest should the `Canes advance past the Owls Wednesday night.
TICKET INFORMATION
Single game and season tickets are currently available for the 2011 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 ticket information for the 2011 baseball season, call 1-800-GO-CANES or visit Hurricanesports.com.
