@CanesBaseball in Rain Delay at Season Opener
#28 Miami vs. Rutgers
Feb. 15-17, 2013
Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field | Coral Gables, Fla.
TV: Friday: ESPN3 | Saturday: ESPN 3 | Sunday: Canes All-Access
Radio: Fri: 560 WQAM | Sat: WVUM 90.5 | Sun: WVUM 90.5
Twitter: @CanesBaseball
Facebook: /TheUBaseball
Series: Miami leads, 49-12
Last Meeting: Feb. 19, 2012. Miami won, 9-7 in Coral Gables.
Miami 0-0 (0-0 ACC)
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The Games
The Miami Hurricanes open their 2013 campaign Fri., Feb. 15 with a three-game series against visiting Rutgers University. Pitching matchups are listed below.
Friday: Soph. LHP Chris Diaz (Miami) vs. Sr. LHP Rob Smorol (Rutgers)
Saturday: Jr. RHP Javi Salas (Miami) vs. Sr. RHP Tyler Gebler (Rutgers)
Sunday: Soph. LHP Andrew Suarez (Miami) vs. Sr. RHP Charlie Law (Rutgers)
The Series
The Hurricanes hold a 49-12 all-time advantage over the Scarlet Knights, including nine of the last ten head-to-head contests. Miami swept a three-game set with Rutgers to open the 2012 season.
The Broadcasts
The first two games of the series will be broadcast live on ESPN3, with Kyle Sielaff and Chris Ashby on the call. Sunday’s game will be available via live video stream on Canes All-Access.
WQAM 560 will broadcast at Mark Light for Friday’s opener, with Joe Zagacki (play-by-play) and Mike Levine (color) on the call. WVUM 90.5 will carry all three games against Rutgers.
The Coach
Jim Morris is in his 34th season as a head coach and 20th with the Miami Hurricanes. He has a 1,485-629-4 (.701) career record, including a 850-321-3 mark at Miami, where he has guided the team to two National Championships (1999, 2001).
The Weather
Projected temperatures at first pitch: Friday: 63° | Saturday: 47°| Sunday: 64°
2013 @CanesBaseball Quick Hits
• Head coach Jim Morris will open his 20th season at the helm of the storied Miami baseball program. The Hurricanes, who qualified for their NCAA-record 40th straight postseason in 2012, finished just one game short of an Atlantic Coast Conference title during the 2012 ACC Championship in Greensboro, N.C.
• The Hurricanes return position players that helped pave the way to one of 16 host sites for the first round of the 2012 NCAA Division I Championship. Among the team’s returning starting field players: 2012 All- ACC Tournament selection Chantz Mack, speedy outfielder Dale Carey, and consistent infielder Brad Fieger.
• In addition to its talented lineup, Miami returns many of the key pitchers who guided the team to the second- lowest ERA of any squad in the Atlantic Coast Conference (3.16). Among the team’s most important hurlers: senior ace Eric Whaley (2.68 ERA), preseason All-American reliever AJ Salcines (1.40 ERA, seven saves), and a pair of lefties coming off injury-shortened seasons: junior Bryan Radziewski and sophomore Andrew Suarez.
• Miami’s run to the 2012 ACC Championship Game ended with a loss to Georgia Tech. Despite losing their open ing tournament game to NC State, the Hurricanes reeled off wins against North Carolina and Wake Forest to qualify for the finale, where Miami fell just one game short of its second ACC Championship in program history.
• After a strong showing in the conference tournament, the Hurricanes were one of 16 teams chosen to host the first round of the postseason. Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field played host to Missouri State, UCF and College World Series participant Stony Brook.
• In 2013, the Hurricanes will be bolstered by a recruiting class ranked in the top 10 nationally by both Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. The Hurricanes’ incoming class is highlighted by junior transfer Alex Hernandez (Palm Beach State), David Thompson (Miami, Fla.), infielder Brandon Lopez (Miramar, Fla.) and outfielder Grant Heyman (Pittsford, N.Y.).
AJ Salcines Garners Preseason Honors
After tying for the conference lead in appearances last season, junior closer AJ Salcines has garnered preseason recognition from a number of different outlets. Salcines was named an NCBWA Preseason All-America Third Team selection in December, was selected among 75 relievers nationwide for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List, and was selected as the ACC’s top closer heading into 2013 in a College Baseball Insider poll of conference coaches.
@CanesBaseball Bolstered By Top Recruiting Class
Head Coach Jim Morris and his staff will enjoy the fruits of their recruiting labors in 2013, when a top 10 class takes the field at Alex Rodriguez Park. The Canes’ group of newcomers earned a top 10 ranking from Baseball America for the first time since 2006 (No. 10), and was ranked No. 9 by Collegiate Baseball.
Veteran Outfielders Key Lineup
Miami figures to have two seniors and one junior comprising its outfield on Opening Day: Michael Broad (who was moved from the infield to the outfield during fall practice), Chantz Mack (who earned All-ACC Championship honors in 2012) and Dale Carey (who ranks among the conference’s top 2013 MLB Draft prospects).
Sophomore Southpaw Gets the Nod
Chris Diaz, who started two games in 2012, will be taking the mound for the Hurricanes on Opening Day. The sophomore, who finished his freshman campaign with a 2-1 mark and a 4.18 ERA, combines a good fastball with among the best offspeed repertoires of any pitcher on the staff.
