Baseball Opens 2014 Season TONIGHT with Maine
Miami Hurricanes vs. Maine Black Bears
Feb. 14 – Feb. 16, 2014
Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field | Coral Gables, Fla.
Radio: WQAM 560 (Friday,Sunday) | WVUM 90.5 FM (all games)
TV: Canes All-Access (HurricaneSports.com) ($)
Twitter: @CanesBaseball
Facebook: /TheUBaseball
Miami against Maine: 61-12 all-time advantage
Miami Hurricanes 0-0 (0-0 ACC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats
Projected Starters:
FRIDAY: Miami LHP Chris Diaz (7-5, 1.64 ERA) vs. Maine RHP Tommy Lawrence (11-3, 2.32 ERA)
SATURDAY: Miami LHP Bryan Radziewski (9-3, 1.75 ERA) vs. Maine LHP Scott Heath (1-2, 15.63 ERA)
SUNDAY: Miami LHP Andrew Suarez (3-6, 3.95 ERA) vs. Maine RHP Jake Marks (4-0, 3.16 ERA)
The Broadcast
WQAM 560 will carry Friday’s game, with Mike Levine on the call, as well as Sunday’s game, featuring both Joe Zagacki and Levine. WVUM 90.5 FM will also broadcast all three games, which will be available to watch via Canes All-Access on HurricaneSports.com. Click HERE for more information.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
• Miami enters the 2014 season ranked among the 20 teams in every major college baseball preseason poll. The Hurricanes were rated No. 13 in Collegiate Baseball Newspaper’s preseason rankings, No. 16 by Baseball America and No. 17 in the USA Today coaches poll.
• The Hurricanes pitching staff is expected to lead the way in 2014. Friday and Saturday night starters Chris Diaz (1.64 ERA) and Bryan Radziewski (1.75) ranked second and third, respectively, in ERA among all ACC pitchers in 2013.
• Both Radziewski (29th round, St. Louis) and midweek starter Javi Salas (38th round, Minnesota) were selected in the 2013 MLB Draft but opted to return to school. Also returning is junior lefthander Andrew Suarez (3.95 ERA), who is expected to pitch on Sundays.
• Joining the returning nucleus is a recruiting class ranked among the best nationwide. The group was rated No. 4 by Collegiate Baseball and No. 6 by Baseball America – its highest ranking from the publication since 2006.
• Four players from the recruiting class were selected in the 2013 MLB Draft but opted to playcollegiately: outfielder Willie Abreu, first baseman/catcher Zack Collins, righthanded pitcher Derik Beauprez and outfielder Jacob Heyward.
STARTING OUT
• Miami’s nonconference schedule opens with formidable weekend opposition: America East conference champions Maine, a rivalry weekend against in-state foe Florida at Mark Light Field, and a trip to Tallahassee, Fla., for a rare nonconference series against the Seminoles.
• The Hurricanes were one of six representatives from the ACC recognized in Baseball America’s preseason top 25, joining Virginia (No.1), NC State (No. 5), Florida State (No. 6), Clemson (No. 13) and North Carolina (No. 17).
• With a challenging slate of in-state opponents and a demanding conference schedule, Miamiended the 2013 season with the third toughest strength of schedule of any team nationwide,according to WarrenNolan.com
FAMILIAR FOE
• The Miami Hurricanes open their highly anticipated 2014 baseball season with a weekend series against the visiting Maine Black Bears. Miami has not played Maine in a three-game series since 1996 but captured a 6-2 victory in a midweek matchup in 2013.
• Miami has played Maine 73 times in program history, and boasts a 61-12 advantage in the all-timeseries – including 20 straight wins overall and 11 straight wins under head coach Jim Morris.
• Paced by a career-best eight-inning performance from lefthander Thomas Woodrey, Miami beat Maine 6-2 in the team’s lone matchup on March 5, 2013. Two-RBI nights from Brad Fieger and Brandon Lopez paced the Miami offense, while Woodrey needed just 94 pitches to get through eight innings.
