Hurricanes Ranked No. 18 by Baseball America
Jan. 25, 2012
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CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes earned a national ranking of No. 18 from Baseball America in the publication’s Preseason Poll released Tuesday. The Hurricanes finished the 2011 season with a 38-23 record while continuing their NCAA record of 39-straight postseason appearances. The Canes will face off against six teams in Baseball America’s Top-25 in 2012, including the four other Atlantic Coast Conference representatives who cracked the rankings: North Carolina (No. 9), Georgia Tech (No. 12), Clemson (No. 16) and Florida State (No. 20). The Florida Gators, ranked No. 1 by Baseball America, will make the trip to Coral Gables for a weekend series beginning March 2. Miami will also have a midweek battle with visiting UCF (No. 21) on April 4. Head Coach Jim Morris will enjoy the return of many Hurricanes who keyed last season’s postseason run, including slugger Rony Rodriguez (13 homeruns, 44 RBI), righty Eric Whaley (7-5 record, 2.70 ERA) and lefty Bryan Radziewski (9-2 record, 3.35 ERA). The team will be bolstered by the addition of transfer catcher Peter O’Brien (.304 average, 14 homeruns, 69 RBI) and the return of ace lefty Eric Erickson, who sat out 2011 after recovering from surgery. The Hurricanes, who were ranked No. 14 in College Baseball Newspaper’s Preseason Poll, will begin their 2012 campaign with an Alumni Game exhibition on Feb. 11 before an opening series with visiting Rutgers on Feb. 17. |
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