No. 13 Miami Set for Showdown with No. 3 UNC

April 5, 2012

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — In the midst of one of their toughest stretches to the 2012 schedule, the No. 13 Miami Hurricanes return to the diamond on Friday for their series opener with yet another formidable opponent: the visiting No. 3 Tar Heels of North Carolina.

The Canes, who have dropped three of their last four contests, have endured offensive struggles in their most recent run of games. Though the team’s pitching staff has performed impressively, the team has plated only 11 combined runs in their last four games, including only one in their most recent defeat to No. 14 UCF on Wednesday.

“It’s contagious both ways, not hitting and hitting,” Head Coach Jim Morris said. “We’ve just got to get one guy to get a big hit and another guy to get a big hit, and all of a sudden it’s a new day.”

If the Hurricanes manage to end those offensive woes, they will do so against one of the most talented pitching staffs in the nation. The Tar Heels’ pitching staff boasts the best ERA in the Atlantic Coast Conference (2.58), and is a big reason UNC sits atop the Coastal Division with a 9-3 record in conference play.

“This is a big series, and every series is a big series in the ACC,” Coach Morris said. “They’re one of the best programs right now, so we have to take that as a challenge and as an opportunity to go out and beat them.”

Hot on UNC’s heels is the Hurricanes’ pitching staff, whose 2.98 ERA is good for third-best in the conference. Though the bats struggled on their road trip to Clemson, S.C., weekend starters Eric Erickson, Eric Whaley and Steven Ewing performed admirably against a talented Tigers lineup, holding it to a combined eight runs in three games. Sophomore righthander Javi Salas followed the weekend rotation up with a strong showing on Wednesday against UCF, pitching 5.1 innings and allowing only one unearned run in his starting debut.

On Thursday, Coach Morris acknowledged the importance for the team’s hitters to step up to the challenge.

“Bottom line is we need to get some hitting when guys are on base,” Morris said. “We need to be making big plays at times when you need big plays. When you don’t score run it puts more puressure on the defense and more pressure on the pitchers.”

The Friday and Saturday games of the weekend series, each scheduled for a 7 p.m. start time, will be broadcast live on Comcast CSS with simulcast on ESPN3.com. Jason Solodkin will have the play-by-play call for both games, while Wicho Hernandez will serve as the color analyst.

GAME 1: FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 7 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI: LHP Eric Erickson(4-3, 3.40 ERA) vs.CAROLINA: LHP Kent Emanuel (5-1, 1.59 ERA)

GAME 2: SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 7 p.m
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI: RHP Eric Whaley (3-2, 2.28 ERA)vs.CAROLINA: RHP Chris Munnelly (2-0, 3.38 ERA)

GAME 3: SUNDAY, APRIL 8, 1 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI: LHP Steven Ewing (3-0, 2.35 ERA) vs.CAROLINA: LHP Benton Moss (2-1, 1.93 ERA)