No. 14 @CanesBaseball to Battle No. 2 FSU
GAME INFORMATION – GAMES 8-10
#14 MIAMI HURRICANES (4-3, 0-0 ACC) vs. #2 FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES (6-0, 0-0 ACC)
Fri., Feb. 28, 2014 (4 p.m. ET) • Sat., March 1, 2014 (2 p.m. ET) • Sun., March 2, 2014 (1 p.m. ET)
ESPN3 (Friday, Saturday) • Tallahassee, Fla. • Dick Howser Stadium (6,750)
SERIES HISTORY
Florida State leads the all-time series 145-122-4 and 76-54-2 at Dick Howser Stadium … Florida State won the last match-up between the two teams in 2013, a 5-1 decision on April 7.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
ESPN3 • Tom Block, Play-by-Play • Chip Baker, Analyst
WVUM 90.5 FM • AJ Ricketts, Chip Brierre
BROADCAST INFORMATION
WVUM 90.5 FM • WVUM.org
PROJECTED STARTERS
Friday: MIAMI LHP Chris Diaz (2-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. FSU RHP Luke Weaver (2-0, 2.45 ERA)
Saturday: MIAMI LHP Bryan Radziewski (0-1, 1.69 ERA) vs. FSU LHP Brandon Leibrandt (1-0, 2.45 ERA)
Sunday: MIAMI LHP Andrew Suarez (1-1, 3.75 ERA) vs. FSU RHP Mike Compton (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
NEWS AND NOTES
ANOTHER RIVALRY RENEWED…
- The No. 14 Miami Hurricanes continue their challenging start to the 2014 season with their annual series against rival No. 2 Florida State.
- Due to conference re-alignment and scheduling, the series will not count towards ACC standings. Miami has not played Florida State in a game without conference implications since the 2008 College World Series.
- Florida State holds the all-time series advantage 145-122-4, including a 76-54-2 mark at Dick Howser Stadium. The Seminoles took two out of three on their most recent trip to Coral Gables in 2013.
- Miami snapped a four-game losing streak to the Seminoles with a 6-0 win in game two of last year’s series. Bryan Radziewski pitched seven shutout innings in the win, striking out seven batters.
STARTING OFF STRONG…
- Miami won its annual nonconference series with in-state foe Florida for the first time since 2009, capturing the first two games of the series (6-4, 5-2) but dropping the finale (4-6).
- The Hurricane offense exploded for six home runs off Gators pitching, the most for a Miami team in a single series since an April 2010 weekend set at Virginia Tech.
- Senior outfielder Dale Carey and junior catcher Garrett Kennedy helped spark the fireworks, hitting two home runs apiece in the series. The two players combined for just four home runs in all of 2013.
- Boosted by their series win, Miami climbed to No. 14 in the Baseball America top 25 rankings – its highest position in the poll since 2012.
FRESHMAN PHENOMS…
- Three freshmen were in head coach Jim Morris’ Opening Day lineup: first baseman Zack Collins, designated hitter Willie Abreu and second baseman Johnny Ruiz. Shortstop Laz Rivera and designated hitter Jacob Heyward have also earned starts through the first two weeks of the regular season.
- Freshman reliever Bryan Garcia recorded the first two saves of his career in back-to-back wins over Florida.
- Two Hurricanes connected on their career-first home runs in the series against Florida: Abreu (solo) and Collins (three-run). Collins became the first Hurricane since San Diego Padres slugger Yonder Alonso (2006) to record a home run for his career-first hit, breaking an 0-for-17 drought.
