Hurricanes and Yellow Jackets Set for Weekend Showdown
March 24, 2011
Miami vs. Georgia Tech Series Notes (PDF) 
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – A huge Atlantic Coast Conference baseball matchup takes place this weekend, as the University of Miami and Georgia Tech meet for a three-game series at Alex Rodriguez Park, beginning Friday, March 25, at 7 p.m.
Miami (14-8, 6-0 ACC) enters the weekend working on a nine-game win streak, while Georgia Tech (18-4, 6-0 ACC) rides into Coral Gables with a league-leading 13-straight wins. Both UM and Georgia Tech are the only undefeated teams in ACC play – both playing in the league’s Coastal Division.
The winner of this weekend’s series will have a chance to take sole possession of first place in the ACC if either team sweeps and/or Florida State loses one game in its weekend series. The Hurricanes are ranked No. 29 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll, and Georgia Tech has its highest ranking at No. 15 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll – though the Rambling Wreck is ranked in all four major college polls.
In the nine-game winning streak for Miami, they have been led by the resurgence of Harold Martinez who has batted a team-high .467 since moving from third base to first – in a clean swap in freshman Brad Fieger – prior to the start of the Virginia Tech series. The junior Preseason All-American bats .288 overall on the year, catapulting himself to second on the team in hits (21) while leading the squad in RBI (17).
Martinez comes into the series working on a team-leading eight-game hitting streak. His career-long is 10.
The `Canes are also paced by sophomore outfielder Zeke DeVoss as the team’s leading batter, statistically, hitting .295 with 23 hits, 18 runs and 11 steals – all team-highs in each category, respectively. Rony Rodriguez leads the team in home runs (3) and slugging percentage (.484).
While the Miami starting pitchers have been solid in their last two outings each (including the weekday rotation), it has been the Hurricanes bullpen that has shown dominance of its opponents of late. The combination of Adam Sargent, Travis Miller, Sam Robinson and Daniel Miranda (closer) has yet to allow a run over the last six contests in a span of 18 innings.
This weekend, the UMiami rotation will be tested by the Yellow Jackets, as it will be freshman Bryan Radziewski, E.J. Encinosa and Eric Whaley, in order, each taking their turn on the bump. Radziewski (3-1, 1.95 ERA) enters Friday’s game with a team-leading 36 strikeouts, with Whaley (4-1, 2.61) leading the team in wins and sitting third in strikeouts (32).
Miami has claimed three of the last five meetings between the two teams, but it has been Georgia Tech collecting the last two series victories. In 2008, Miami swept the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta, as well as defeating them in a game during the ACC Championships on the way to the ACC Tournament title.
UM holds a 47-26 all-time lead in the series.
Georgia Tech is led by its pitching staff, allowing just 2.14 earned runs per game. The staff ace is Friday’s starter Mark Pope, a right-hander that enters with a perfect 5-0 record and a league-leading ERA of 0.23, adding 32 strikeouts and just four walks in 38 2/3 innings tossed this season.
The Yellow Jackets carry a .388 batting average into the weekend, behind the strength of Kyle Wren with a team-leading .467 average and 42 hits. He has swiped eight bases on the paths, and totes a perfect fielding percentage. Offensively, he is followed by Jake Davies with a .403 average on 27 hits – including three home runs and four doubles. Like Wren, he has yet to commit a fielding error this year.
All three games this weekend will be televised, with Saturdays 1 p.m. start serving as the ACC Game of the Week being broadcast on RSN. Check your local cable listings for the channel provider. In Florida, Saturday’s game will be broadcast on Sun Sports.
Friday and Sunday will be regional games on Comcast Sports (CSS). Friday’s game is set for 7 p.m., and Sunday will be at 1 p.m.
On Friday evening, all fans in attendance at Alex Rodriguez Park can throw tennis balls towards targets in the outfield to win a flat screen TV and a Nintendo Wii in the Big Cheese Flingin’ Friday competition. We’ll also celebrate the diversity of South Florida with Latin Heritage Night presented by Presidente.
For Saturday’s game, fans will want to arrive early as the first 2,000 to come through the turn stiles will receive 2011 Team Card Sets. It’s also our Senior Stroll Day, as we’re letting senior citizens get in the action and round the bases after the game.
On Sunday, the Hurricanes will offer the ever-popular FunDay Sunday. Every Sunday, the `Canes are proud to present a Kids Zone with inflatable bounce houses and kids 12-and-under can run the bases after the game. It will also be Zoo Miami Day at the ballpark, as the Hurricanes welcome Zoo Miami in continuing to celebrate 30 years in South Florida. The zoo will have an interactive display with animals, information about upcoming events and displays, and there will be zoo passes given away throughout the game.
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.
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 25, 7 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – LHP Bryan Radziewski vs. Georgia Tech – RHP Mark Pope
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM | 560 WQAM | 1450 ESPN Deportes
TV: CSS
GAME 2: SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – RHP E.J. Encinosa vs. Georgia Tech – LHP Jed Bradley
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM | 560 WQAM | 1450 ESPN Deportes
TV: RSN | Sun Sports
GAME 3: SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 1 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – RHP Eric Whaley vs. Georgia Tech – RHP Buck Farmer
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM | 560 WQAM | 1450 ESPN Deportes
TV: CSS
