@CanesBaseball Set for Game Two with ILSU
#29 Miami vs. Illinois State
March 12-13, 2013
Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field | Coral Gables, Fla.
Tue: 6 p.m | Wed: 6 p.m
TV: Canes All-Access(all three games)
Radio: WVUM 90.5 FM
Twitter: @CanesBaseball
Facebook: /TheUBaseball
Series: Miami leads, 5-1
Last Meeting: March 13, 2012 in Coral Gables, Fla. | Miami won 11-6
Miami 13-4 (1-2 ACC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats
Illinois State 5-7 (0-0 Valley)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats
The Games
The No. 29 Hurricanes, wrapping up a season-long homestand, will take on the visiting Illinois State Redbirds for a midweek set at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field. Both games are slated for 6 p.m. first pitch.
Projected Starters
Tuesday: SR RHP Eric Whaley (0-0, 7.71 ERA) vs. SR RHP Brad Sorkin (2-1, 3.50 ERA)
Wednesday: JR LHP Bryan Radziewski (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RS JR LHP J.D. Learnard (0-0, 3.00 ERA)
The Series
The Hurricanes won last year’s lone matchup with the Redbirds by a final score of 11-6 on March 13 in Coral Gables. Miami owns an all-time series advantage of 5-1 over Illinois State.
The Broadcasts
WVUM 90.5 will carry both games against the Redbirds beginning at 6 p.m.
A live video stream will be available at first pitch for each of this weekend’s games through HurricaneSports.com. For more information, click HERE.
The Coach
Jim Morris is in his 34th season as a head coach and 20th with the Miami Hurricanes. He has a 1,496-631-4 (.702) career record, including a 863-323-3 mark at Miami, where he has guided the team to two National Championships (1999, 2001).
MIDWEEK MOMENTUM…
• After dropping its most recent weekend series against Duke, Miami is looking to build momentum by continuing its stretch of midweek dominance. The Hurricanes are a perfect 5-0 in midweek games in 2013.
• Junior lefthander Bryan Radziewski delivered one of the marquee performances of the season against UCF (March 6), striking out a career-high 11 batters in only five innings of work, guiding Miami to a 5-0 shutout win. It was the first double-digit strikeout performance by a Miami pitcher since Javi Salas struck out 10 FAU batters in an April 2012 start.
• Senior Chantz Mack has led the way offensively in Miami’s midweek schedule, batting .429 with team-best totals of nine hits and six runs scored.
HOME SWEET HOME…
• Miami is wrapping up a season-long seven-game homestand. The Hurricanes have recorded an impressive 11-2 home record to start 2013, including weekend sweeps of Rutgers and Milwaukee.
• The Hurricanes finished 2012 with a home record of 25-10 (.714), including a 10-5 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
• After 19 games inside state lines, the Hurricanes’ upcoming trip to Chapel Hill, N.C. for a weekend series beginning March 15 will mark the first time Miami leaves the Sunshine State.
NEWCOMERS FINDING THEIR WAY…
• Freshman Christopher Barr made his first career start Sunday against Duke, reaching base a career-best three times to help guide Miami to the series finale victory. He has reached base in seven of his nine plate appearances (.778), including six walks.
• Freshman lefthander Thomas Woodrey delivered one of the most dominant starts of the season last time out against Maine (March 6), going a career-best eight innings while scattering just three hits in the 6-2 victory.
• Shortstop Brandon Lopez and second baseman Alex Hernandez, both key members of Miami’s nationally ranked 2012 recruiting class, have provided the Hurricanes with impressive defensive range up the middle. Both have started every game at their respective positions.
SCOUTING THE REDBIRDS…
• A former assistant coach on the 2001 Miami Hurricanes national champion team, head coach Mark Kingston is in his fourth season at the helm of Illinois State.
• The Redbirds are off to just a 5-7 start this season, but are coming off a 4-2 win over Fairfield at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational in Winter Haven, Fla.
• Illinois State has been powered offensively by senior outfielder Eric Aguilera (.362 average, 13 RBI’s) and senior infielder Brett Kay (.340 average, six steals).
