Miami Travels North to Boston College for Cold ACC Series
March 31, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format 
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The University of Miami baseball team looks to get back on the winning track in league play this weekend, traveling to Boston College for a three-game series at Eddie Pellagrini Diamond at Commander Shea Field in Chestnut Hill, Mass. For the Eagles of BC, the series will be their first true home games of the year – already 23 games into the 2011 season.
Miami (15-11, 6-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) enters the weekend after collecting a 13-2 victory over Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday evening at home. Boston College (10-13, 4-5 ACC) enters with a three-game losing skid, including a 4-0 setback against Rhode Island on Wednesday.
In ACC play, the `Canes are 3-0 on the road – sweeping Wake Forest in a series two weeks ago in Winston-Salem, N.C. The `Canes are 3 1/2 games behind Georgia Tech in the Coastal Division, and sit in fourth place in a loaded division that includes three Top 25 teams.
Boston College has won its last two ACC series against Maryland and Virginia Tech, respectively. The Eagles are tied with Clemson for second place in the Atlantic Division behind Florida State – the only Top 25 team in all four major polls in the division.
Miami is led at the plate by three players hitting above .270, including freshman third baseman Brad Fieger who has increased his average by 10 points over the last two weeks. He hits .275 for the Hurricanes with a team-high tying 25 hits. Behind him is Rony Rodriguez, batting .273 with a team-leading three home runs and .442 slugging percentage.
Sophomore outfielder Zeke DeVoss leads the Hurricanes in steals (15), base on balls (21), runs (20) and hit by pitches (5), and tied for the lead in hits (25). DeVoss hit his first homer of the year on Wednesday against FGCU, blasting a grand slam to left in the fourth inning – serving as his first grand slam since May 29, 2010 against Virginia in the ACC Tournament.
Miami will be without the services of shortstop Stephen Perez on the weekend, with the sophomore missing his second consecutive series due to an injury in his quadriceps. Junior Harold Martinez has been serving in his place, seeing action at shortstop for the first time since his high school career. For the Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America selection – Martinez – he has increased his batting average the past three weeks, now hitting .250 with a team-leading 19 RBI and swiping two bases on two attempts.
The weekend rotation on the hill will remain the same for the Hurricanes, going with freshman Bryan Radziewski (Friday), sophomore E.J. Encinosa (Saturday) and sophomore Eric Whaley (Sunday).
The weather for this weekend is expected to be cold with snow flurries possible each day. During practice on Thursday evening, the Hurricanes endured freezing rain and snow while taking batting practice and infield/outfield drills.
There is a possibility that Friday’s game could be postponed due to a mixture of rain and snow, forcing a double-header on Saturday or Sunday. Stay tuned to HurricaneSports.com for more information.
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, APRIL 1, 2:30 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – LHP Bryan Radziewski (3-2, 2.78) vs. Boston College – LHP Andrew Lawrence (1-1, 4.35)
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM
TWITTER: HurricaneSports | CanesBaseball
GAME 2: SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 1:30 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – RHP E.J. Encinosa (1-2, 3.67) vs. Boston College – LHP Nate Bayuk (3-2, 3.77)
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM
TWITTER: HurricaneSports | CanesBaseball
GAME 3: SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 1 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – RHP Eric Whaley (4-1, 2.37) vs. Boston College – RHP John Leonard (3-2, 2.54)
RADIO: 90.5 WVUM
TWITTER: HurricaneSports | CanesBaseball
Weekend Weather Forecast
Friday: Morning rain followed by a mix of rain and snow in the afternoon. High 42 degrees. Winds NNW 15-25 MPH.
Saturday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 40s and lows in the low 30s.
Sunday: A few clouds. Highs in the upper 40s and lows in the low 30s.
Carey Me Home…
Freshman outfielder Dale Carey picked up his first multi-hit game as a Miami Hurricane on Tuesday against Florida Gulf Coast, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of RBI and a run scored. It was also the first multi-RBI game of the career for the native of Marietta, Ga. He shares a common bond with another UMiami athlete – DeQuan Jones of men’s basketball, both being highly-touted athletes out of Wheeler High School in the Greater Atlanta Metropolitan Area.
Home-Field Advantage…
With the University of Miami owning a 9-4 advantage in the series against Boston College, the Hurricanes also hold a commanding 7-1 (.875) record in Coral Gables under Jim Morris. Since Alex Rodriguez Park opened prior to the 2009 season, with the renovations to Mark Light Field, UMiami holds a 2-1 (.333) against BC.
Something about Double-Digits…
In the four losses against the Eagles of Boston College, Miami has allowed double-digit runs in three-of-the four contests – including 12 during last year’s Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Tournament classic 12-inning affair in Greensboro, N.C.
Catch Me If “U” Can…
This year’s UMiami team is full of speed from all areas of the lineup, and through the first 26 games it’s quite prevalent. Head coach Jim Morris has preached aggressive base running throughout his illustrious career, with the `Canes swiping 42-of-51 bases this season. Zeke DeVoss leads the way with 15 steals, followed by Nathan Melendres (7) and Stephen Perez (6).
In the last series against Georgia Tech, Miami swiped six bases in seven attempts against the Yellow Jackets, including a 4-for-5 effort from the speedy DeVoss.
Two of a Kind…
University of Miami head coach Jim Morris entered the season with 776 career wins with the Hurricanes and registered 504 wins at Georgia Tech prior to his arrival in Coral Gables. Morris is one of only two head coaches to ever amass 500 or more wins at two separate Division I schools. Augie Garrido at the University of Texas entered the year with 602 wins with the Longhorns program. Garrido logged 928 wins as head coach at Cal State Fullerton before his current stint in Austin.
Closing In On the Lucky “8”…
Jim Morris is enjoying his 18th year at the helm in Coral Gables, and the skipper is closing in on his 800th career win. Morris sits at 791 wins at UMiami entering the weekend against the Eagles of Boston College.
