Hurricanes to Face Clemson in ACC Weekend Action
March 30, 2012
>
| No. 9 Miami vs. Clemson March 30-April 1 | Friday: 6:30 p.m. | Saturday: 4 p.m. | Sunday: 12 p.m. | Doug Kinsmore Stadium |
|
|
Miami 20-5 (7-2 ACC) |
Clemson (12-12, 3-6 ACC) Twitter: @CUTigerBaseball |
| Hurricanes in the News … O’Brien Named ACC Player of the Week Hurricanes Take Series Finale 7-1 Miami Bounces Back with 2-1 Win Hurricanes Resume Conference Play with Duke No. 10 Miami Takes Dramatic 3-2 Victory |
Attending a Game at Alex Rodriguez Park Visit Miami Miami Weather Directions Tickets |
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The eighth-ranked University of Miami Hurricanes return to the diamond Friday, as they open up a three-game series with Clemson University at Doug Kinsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C.
The Hurricanes (20-5), on a 13-2 tear in their past 15 contests, will be competing in their second conference road trip of the season. Head Coach Jim Morris’ club, currently tied atop the Coastal Division of the ACC with a 7-2 record, took two of three games in their first road series against Duke at Durham Bulls Athletic Park earlier this month.
All three games are scheduled for coverage by ESPN affiliates. The series opener and series finale will both be broadcast on ESPN3, while Saturday’s 4 p.m. tilt will have a national broadcast on ESPNU.
Make Them Count
Second baseman Stephen Perez has had a key impact for the Hurricanes this season since returning from an arm injury that limited his playing time earlier in the year. The junior infielder, who is hitting at a .274 clip in 2012, has an impressive .534 slugging percentage through his 22 starts.
Ten of Perez’ 20 hits have gone for extra-bases, including a team-best three triples and second-best three homeruns. His 18 RBI’s are second-best on the team despite playing in only 22 of a possible 25 games. His current seven-game hitting streak is tied for second-longest on the team in 2012.
Encinosa Returns to the Bullpen
Junior right-hander E.J. Encinosa, who served as a starter for the 2011 season, has returned to the bullpen for the 2012 campaign. The righty earned Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America honors for his work in the pen in 2010, where he posted an impressive ERA of 2.20 in 29 appearances on the hill.
Encinosa recorded the first save of his season in the series fi nale against Rutgers, pitching a scoreless ninth inning. The flamethrower recorded two saves in the team’s opening conference series against visiting Boston College, and also closed out a 3-2 game in impressive fashion at No. 19 UCF. He recorded saves in series’ against Duke and Maryland, and currently sits third in the conference with seven saves.
Scouting the Competition: Clemson Tigers
Though they have been inconsistent through the fi rst half of the season (12-12), the Tigers remain one of the premier programs in the Atlantic Coast Conference with an extremely balance team of both pitchers and hitters.
At the plate, the Tigers have been led offensively by Steve Wilkerson (team-best .387 average, 19 runs), slugger Richie Shaffer (six homeruns, 22 RBI) and Phi Pohl (four homeruns, team-best 23 RBI). On the hill, the Tigers have been guided by starters Kevin Pohle (3-1, 1.88 ERA) and Kevin Brady (1-2, 2.97 ERA) alongside relievers Scott Firth (1.04 ERA) and Matt Campbell (2.65 ERA).
GAME 1: FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI: LHP Eric Erickson (3-2, 3.23 ERA) vs.CLEMSON: RHP Kevin Brady (1-2, 2.97)
GAME 2: SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 4 p.m. (ESPNU)
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI: RHP Eric Whaley (3-1, 2.21 ERA)vs.CLEMSON: RHP Dominic Leone (3-2, 6.08 ERA)
GAME 3: SUNDAY, APRIL 1, 12 p.m. (ESPN3)
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI: LHP Steven Ewing (3-0, 2.23 ERA) vs.CLEMSON: RHP Kevin Pohle (3-1, 1.88 ERA)
