Canes Primed for ACC Play
No. 7 Miami (8-4) vs. Pittsburgh (10-2)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule | Game Notes
Mar. 6, 2020 – Mar. 8, 2020 | 3 p.m. | 7 p.m. | 1 p.m.
Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field | Coral Gables, Fla. | Buy Tickets | Directions
By Josh White
HurricaneSports.com
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes have won the Atlantic Coast Conference Costal Division four times since joining the league in 2005.
And on Friday against the Pittsburgh Panthers, the Hurricanes will begin their quest for their fifth division crown.
But despite being picked as the preseason favorite to win the Coastal, Miami is focused on starting conference play off on the right foot.
“I don’t think many guys know about being the favorite to win the Coastal,” junior right-hander Chris McMahon said. “At the end of the day, we are trying to win every game, every series.”
The Hurricanes went 18-12 in ACC play a season ago, winning seven conference series.
While Miami turned in its best conference record since 2016, the Canes are locked in on the present.
“Our goal is to win every single game. We have to go 1-0 every day,” sophomore catcher Adrian Del Castillo said. “This year the ACC is extremely competitive, so many teams are ranked.”
Nine programs in the conference are ranked in the top 25 with another two teams receiving votes.
The Hurricanes’ first test will be against Pittsburgh at Mark Light Field. The Panthers have won 10 of their first 12 games.
Miami took two of three from Pittsburgh a year ago and posted 28 runs across the series.
“I think the games are a little more important,” McMahon said. “In conference, the atmosphere is a little bit better. There is a little more sense of urgency.”
Added first baseman Alex Toral, “It’s definitely one of the top conferences in college baseball, especially this year with so many teams highly ranked.”
The Panthers, who are receiving votes in two polls, are coming off of a midweek loss to Youngstown State. Pittsburgh is 5-0 on weekend series openers.
“It’s the same game, nothing changes,” Toral said. “If we win on Friday night, that sets the tone for the weekend.”
The three-game set begins Friday at 3 p.m. Saturday is set for 7 p.m. and Sunday’s weekend finale is schedule a 1 p.m. start.
Redshirt senior right-hander Brian Van Belle will take the mound for the Canes opposite Pittsburgh right-hander Billy Corcoran in the series opener.
“Pittsburgh is a good team,” Toral said. “They’ve had a strong start to their season. It should be a fun weekend at The Light.”
