Hurricanes Open Conference Play with Eagles

Miami 9-3 (0-0 ACC)
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Boston College 6-5 (0-0 ACC)
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CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami baseball team kicks off its 2012 conference season with a three-game series against Boston College beginning Friday, March 9.

The series opener and series finale will be broadcast live on Canes All-Access, with coverage set for 15 minutes before first pitch. Game two of the series, with a first pitch time of 7:05 p.m., will be broadcast by Comcast/CSS.

A Week of Walk-Offs
One day after falling to the Miami Marlins on a walk off hit in the bottom of the ninth, the Hurricanes returned the favor on Wednesday against the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks.

The Hurricanes capitalized on two errors by the visitors in the inning, as Esteban Tresgallo knocked in Tyler Palmer for the game-winning run.

Freshman Fever in the Gables
Third baseman Esteban Tresgallo, who signed with the Hurricanes out of his hometown of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, is tied with Chris Diaz of N.C. State for the second-longest hitting streak in the ACC at 11 games.

Fellow freshman infielder Jarred Mederos, a product of nearby Hialeah, Fla. and Mater Academy, has started the past three games (and seven of 12) at shortstop for Head Coach Jim Morris’ ballclub.

In addition to the two infielders, three pitchers have seen consistent action to begin the 2012 season. Andrew Suarez earned his first career start in the team’s recent exhibition against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park, while Chris Diaz and Alex Fernandez have been regulars out of the bullpen for the Hurricanes.

Veteran Presence in 2012
The Canes received a big boost in the offseason when transfer catcher Peter O’Brien and graduate student lefthander Eric Erickson were both declared eligible by the NCAA.

True to their elections, the team’s two captains for the 2012 season have played key roles through the team’s first stretch. Through 12 games, O’Brien is currently the team leader in a number of key hitting categories: runs (13), hits (17), homeruns (four) and slugging percentage (.733).

Erickson impressed in his first two starts early
on in 2012; the Sarasota native struck out 16 batters (team-high) in his first 13 innings of work. He is now sporting a 2-1 record with a 3.00 ERA, including 19 strikeouts.

Scouting the Opposition: Boston College Eagles
Visiting Boston College is off to a 6-5 start in 2012, having dropped the past three games on their roadtrip through the Sunshine State. The Eagles lost their games against FGCU (8-5), FIU (14-6) and FAU (13-4).

Spenser Payne and Tom Bourdon have led the Eagles offensively. Payne is hitting a teamleading .359 with eight RBI, while Bourdon is connecting at a .352 rate with a team-leading three homeruns. On the hill, the Eagles have been led by starters Hunter Gordon (1-0, 1.80 ERA) and Eric Stevens (2-0, 3.52 ERA), along with reliever Nate Bayuk (1.23 ERA).

The Hurricanes hold the all-time series advantage over Boston College by an 11-4 margin. Miami won the
first eight ever meetings between the two teams, and won both 2011 renditions in a rain-shortened doubleheader in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Weekend Schedule:

GAME 1: FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 7 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – (LHP) Eric Erickson vs. BOSTON COLLEGE – (RHP) Eric Stevens

GAME 2: SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 7 p.m
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – (RHP) Eric Whaley vs. BOSTON COLLEGE – (RHP) Matt Alvarez

GAME 3: SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 1 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI – (LHP) Bryan Radziewski vs. BOSTON COLLEGE – (RHP) Hunter Gordon