Hurricanes Set for Rubber Match vs. No. 1 UNC
#29 Miami at #1 North Carolina
March 15-17, 2013
Boshamer Stadium | Chapel Hill, N.C.
Fri: 7 p.m, Sat: 6 p.m., Sun: 1 p.m.
TV: ESPN 3 (all three games)
Radio: WVUM 90.5 FM (all three games)
Twitter: @CanesBaseball
Facebook: /TheUBaseball
Series: Miami leads, 29-21-1
Last Meeting: May 24, 2012 in Greensboro, N.C. | Miami won 5-3
Miami 14-5 (1-2 ACC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats
UNC 16-0 (3-0 ACC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats
The Games
After splitting their midweek series with Illinois State, the No. 29 Miami Hurricanes will make their first trip outside state lines for a weekend series with homestanding No. 1 North Carolina at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Projected Rotation
Friday: Sophomore LHP Chris Diaz (1-1, 1.44 ERA) vs. Junior LHP Kent Emanuel (3-0, 0.56 ERA)
Saturday: Junior RHP Javi Salas (2-0, 0. 51 ERA) vs. Sophomore RHP Benton Moss (4-0, 2.62 ERA)
Sunday: Sophomore LHP Andrew Suarez (1-1, 4.26 ERA) vs. Junior LHP Hobbs Johnson (0-0, 4.22 ERA)
The Series
Despite the evenly-matched series history (Miami leads 29-21-1), the Canes have had the upper hand of late, winning nine of the last ten. Miami won all four of its games against Carolina last season, including an April 2012 sweep at Mark Light Field.
The Broadcasts
ESPN 3 will broadcast all three games from Boshamer Stadium, with Andrew Sanders (PXP) and Turner Walston (color) on the call. WVUM 90.5 will also carry all three games against the Tar Heels.
The Coach
Jim Morris is in his 34th season as a head coach and 20th with the Miami Hurricanes. He has a 1,499-634-4 (.701) career record, including a 864-326-3 mark at Miami, where he has guided the team to two National Championships (1999, 2001).
GONE TO CAROLINA
• After splitting its midweek series with visiting Illinois State, No. 29 Miami travels to Chapel Hill, N.C. for a weekend series with No. 1 North Carolina.
• Miami won all four of its matchups with UNC in 2012, including a three-game sweep at Alex Rodriguez Park in the regular season and a win in Pool B play at the 2012 ACC Championship in Greensboro.
• The Hurricanes have taken ten of the last 11 against the Tar Heels overall, including a series victory at Boshamer Stadium in 2011. Miami won the first two games of the weekend set, but dropped the finale by a final score of 8-1.
NEWCOMERS FINDING THEIR WAY
• Members of the Hurricanes 2012 recruiting class, ranked in the top 10 by Baseball America for the first time since 2006, have already made an impact in the early going.
• Freshman Christopher Barr made his first career start in the series finale against Duke (March 10), and has reached base a team-best total of 11 times in the three games since. He has hit first in the order for all three of those games.
• Freshman shortstop Brandon Lopez and junior second baseman Alex Hernandez, both key members of a class ranked No. 9 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball, have provided the Hurricanes with impressive defensive range up the middle. Each has started every game at his respective position.
• Freshman power hitter David Thompson leads the team in homeruns (two) and RBI’s (18) entering Friday’s series opener against the Tar Heels. He also leads the team with seven doubles.
STARTING OFF STRONG
• Sophomore lefthander Chris Diaz has faired well in his new role as Friday night starter, delivering three quality starts in four chances this season. The Florida City, Fla., native ranks 11th in the conference with an ERA of 1.44.
• Junior righthander Javi Salas ranks No. 22 in the ACC with an ERA of 2.53. The Coral Gables, Fla., native, who burst onto the scene in 2012 with an impressive sophomore campaign, is 2-1 in his four starts.
• Sophomore lefthander Andrew Suarez delivered the best start of his career last time out against Duke (March 10). The Miami, Fla., native went a career-best seven innings and allowed just one earned run.
SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS
• North Carolina entered 2013 ranked No. 1 in most preseason polls, and has done little to deter the notion by starting the season with a perfect mark of 16-0.
• The Tar Heels are anchored by their impressive rotation, which includes junior Kent Emanuel (3-0, 0.56 ERA), sophomore Benton Moss (4-0, 2.62 ERA) and midweek starter Trent Thornton (3-0, 0.47 ERA).
• Offensively, Carolina is powered by freshman Skye Bolt (.414 AVG, three homeruns, 15 RBI’s), senior Cody Stubbs (.393, 23 RBI’s) and preseason All-American Colin Moran (.344, three homeruns, 22 RBI’s).
