Miami Set for Crosstown Showdown with FIU
Miami (5-6, 0-0 ACC) at FIU (5-6, 0-0 C-USA)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule | Game Notes
March 7, 2018 | 7 p.m.
FIU Baseball Stadium | Miami, Fla.
MIAMI — The Miami Hurricanes will be looking to extend their winning streak to three straight games when they take on host FIU at FIU Baseball Stadium on Wed., March 7. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. on 790 The Ticket and WVUM 90.5 FM.
Senior lefthander Michael Mediavilla (0-2) will oppose FIU righthander Nick MacDonald (1-0).
The Hurricanes (5-6) are coming of back-to-back wins against Maine that earned them their second series win in three weekends to open the year.
Miami won a 15-inning thriller, 7-6, on Saturday night, despite twice falling behind in extra innings.
Miami fell behind 6-5 in the top of the 15th but plated two in the bottom half, with the game-winning run driven in on the bat of freshman Alex Toral. The game was the longest for Miami since a 17-inning game against Florida State in 2015.
The Hurricanes had a quick turnaround time for Sunday’s game, which began at 11:30 a.m.
“It was a really emotional game [Saturday]. To win that and come back and score two [in the 15th] was a great thing,” head coach Jim Morris said. “I had trouble going to sleep. I was at the park by 8 o’clock the next morning.”
After allowing a first-inning run, sophomore Evan McKendry (2-1) was sharp the rest of the way, tying a career high with 10 strikeouts to help lead Miami to victory in the finale.
McKendry, who was named ACC Pitcher of the Week on February 26 after tossing six shutout innings against No. 1 Florida in a 2-0 win, continued an impressive stretch to start the season. He has compiled 26 strikeouts in three starts. His 10 Sunday were the most since a May start last year against FGCU.
“He has pitched great, in particular with Florida being No. 1 and beating them…that’s what we’ve got to do with these young guys,” Morris said. “He’s only a sophomore, and he’s coming along and getting better and better. We thought he could possibly be our Friday night ace, so there’s some competition in our staff, which is a good thing.”
One of the most impressive takeaways from the weekend was the standout job freshman Isaac Quinones did in place of an injured Michael Amditis. Quinones made the first three starts of his college career and ended up catching 32 of 33 innings.
He also had a career-best four RBI in Sunday’s 7-1 win.
“It’s fun to watch them. Quinones, this is the first time has has started in a college game with Amditis getting hurt,” Morris said. “He played all three games and did a great job. Sunday he was our player of the game. It was a big day watching him play.”
Amditis was named to the watch list for the Johnny Bench Award, honoring the nation’s top collegiate catcher, on Tuesday. The only Johnny Bench Award in program history is Zack Collins, who won the award in 2016.
Wednesday’s game will be broadcast on 790 The Ticket and WVUM 90.5 FM.
