Hurricanes Take Four-Game Win Streak to Wake Forest
March 17, 2011
Complete Game Notes in PDF Format 
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The University of Miami baseball team takes its four-game win streak on the road for the first away Atlantic Coast Conference series of the year, taking on Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C., beginning Friday, March 18 at 6 p.m.
After claiming a series sweep of Virginia Tech last weekend in Coral Gables, the Miami Hurricanes (9-8, 3-0 ACC) head to a surging Wake Forest (7-9, 2-1 ACC) team for a three-game series at Wake Forest Baseball Park. The Demon Deacons took the final two games of their conference-opener last weekend against perennial power North Carolina in Winston-Salem.
The Hurricanes began the year just 5-8 – with head coach Jim Morris missing seven games in that opening stretch, and have piled on five wins in their last six contests since the skippers return to the UMiami dugout on Tuesday, March 8, against Illinois State. The `Canes
Beginning the year hitting just .229 through the 4-7 start to the year, Miami has raised its average to .267 over the course of the last six games. Hitting a career-low .167 to start the campaign, All-America Preseason selection Harold Martinez is leading the `Canes at the plate in the resurgence period, batting a team-best .412 – including hitting .600 in the last four contests.
Overall, Miami is batting .242 on the year, and holding opponents to just a .205 average.
Designated hitter Rony Rodriguez in the team leader in average, sitting at .280, followed by freshman Brad Fieger with a .267 average. Rodriguez leads the team with two home runs.
Outfielder Zeke DeVoss is the team leader in stolen bases (7), followed closely by Stephen Perez (5).
Outfielders Chantz Mack and Nathan Melendres also account for much of the Hurricanes hitting improvement. With Melendres nursing a hurt hand – suffered in the Appalachian State series – he has been reinserted into the `Canes outfield, and is batting .297 on the campaign with four steals and a slugging percentage of .486. Mack carries a .306 average into the Wake Forest series, swiping two bases in two attempts on the path – and has drawn a team-high 13 walks.
The pitching staff has been amazing this year, combining for an ERA of 2.65 – highlighted by sophomore Eric Whaley with a team-leading three wins. He enters the weekend working on a 3-1 record, with his lone loss coming against top-ranked Florida. Freshman Bryan Radziewski leads the squad in strikeouts (26), and sophomore E.J. Encinosa picked up his first win of the campaign over the weekend with a win over Virginia Tech. Encinosa is now holding opponents to just a .174 average against.
The UMiami bullpen has been solid as well, led by junior Sam Robinson with a clean 0.00 ERA in 10 appearances. He also leads the team with two saves. Over the last four contests, the `Canes have allowed just three earned runs – and just one from the starting pitchers in that time frame. Closer Daniel Miranda has posted a 1-0 record out of the bullpen, also holding a 0.93 ERA in eight appearances on the hill.
This weekend, Miami will look to continue its dominance of the Demon Deacons, haven won the last eight in a series that dates back to just 1987. This weekend’s games will take place at the newly renovated Wake Forest Baseball Park, formerly Ernie Shore Field (former home to the now Winston-Salem Dash minor league team).
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.
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: FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 6 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – LHP Bryan Radziewski vs. Wake Forest – LHP Austin Stadler
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM
GAME 2: SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 4 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – RHP E.J. Encinosa vs. Wake Forest – LHP Tim Cooney
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM
GAME 3: SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 1 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – RHP Eric Whaley vs. Wake Forest – TBA
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM
Scouting Wake Forest…
Wake Forest may have been predicted to finish fifth in the ACC Atlantic Division, but the Demon Deacons are certainly not playing that way. The Deacs took two-of-three from North Carolina last weekend in the ACC-opener, to move to 2-1 in ACC play. Overall, Wake Forest has won five of its last five – including the last three consecutive with a win over UNC Charlotte on Tuesday night.
The Demon Deacons are led at the plate by Matt Conway, batting a team-high .339, as well as a slugging percentage of .627 with a team-high tying five doubles and team-best four homers. Mac Williamson bats .321, with 14 RBI and three stolen bases. In the field, the Deacs field at .968 with 19 errors as a team. Wake bats just .230 as a team, while opponents bat at a .274 percentage.
The Wake Forest pitching staff enters the weekend with a 4.69 team ERA, highlighted by Tim Cooney with a 2.28 ERA. In four starts, he is 2-1, registering a team-high 26 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings tossed. Behind him is Justin Van Grouw with an even 2-2 record and a 5.06 ERA in 16 frames pitched. Friday night starter Austin Stadler owns a 0-3 record with an 8.24 ERA, adding a team second-best 22 strikeouts through 19 2/3 innings.
Miami Against Wake Forest…
Miami owns a commanding 22-5 advantage in the series against Wake Forest. The Hurricanes swept the Demon Deacons last year in Coral Gables, and have won eight in a row in the series dating back to March 21, 2008. The `Canes last loss to the Deacs was a 7-3 decision in the ACC Championships on May 26, 2007 in Jacksonville.
Welcome Back, Welcome Back…
With six hits in his last eight official at-bats, junior Preseason All-American Harold Martinez has come back to life at the plate. He has also laid down three sacrifice bunts and driven in four RBI in that span–all in the series finale against Virginia Tech (March 13)–serving as a team single-game high in that category this season. Before making the switch to first base, Martinez was batting a career-low .163, but has increased that average by almost .100 – now batting .245. He is batting .600 in his last three games and fielding at 100 percent since making the defensive switch.
