April 6, 2006
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The 17th-ranked University of Miami baseball team will play its second-straight top 10 opponent against No. 6 North Carolina at Mark Light Field Friday night. Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling 1-800-GO-CANES.A 7 p.m. first pitch is set to begin the three-game series between the Hurricanes (23-10 overall, 8-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) and Tar Heels (25-6, 7-5). The series continues with Game 2 at 7 p.m. on Saturday, and concludes with a 1 p.m. start on Sunday.
The first two games of the series will be televised live by Comcast Sports Southeast, with Chuck Hussion calling the play-by-play and former Hurricane Wicho Hernandez providing color analysis. The Student Voice of UM, WVUM (90.5) FM will broadcast all three games as well. Friday and Saturday's games can be heard in Spanish on WWFE (670 AM) and UM's flagship, WQAM (560 AM) will also broadcast Saturday's game.
Miami and North Carolina have met 28 times on the baseball diamond, with the Hurricanes owning a 17-10-1 advantage, including two wins and a tie in Chapel Hill, N.C. last year. This year's meeting will determine ownership of the ACC's Coastal Division. Miami sits one game ahead of UNC in the standings and must win at least two games to keep its early-season lead on the division.
This week's series is the second of a daunting conference slate that remains for the Hurricanes, which includes six ranked teams. UM lost Round 1 of its battle against the ACC's heavyweights last week, getting swept by ninth-ranked Clemson at Mark Light Field. The Hurricanes haven't been swept often at home, but have come back strong when it has happened, including a 16-game winning streak earlier this season after No. 2 Florida (Feb. 17-19) took three from the `Canes.
Miami's offense is led by the 2-3 combination of junior center fielder Jon Jay (.339, 38 runs) and freshman Yonder Alonso (.339, five home runs, 11 doubles, 42 RBI). Jay has stolen 13 bases over a 13-game stretch without getting caught and is on pace to set career highs in runs scored. Cleanup hitter Danny Valencia leads the team with a .358 average and catcher Eddy Rodriguez is hitting .348 with a team-high six home runs.
UNC has won four of its last five games, including a series win against previously top-ranked Florida State. While the Tar Heels' pitching has deservedly garnered much of the recognition the team receives, their offense cannot be ignored. North Carolina's lineup is hitting .333 and is anchored by junior outfielder Jay Cox (.443, 8 HR, 30 RBI) and shortstop Josh Horton, who is hitting .431 and has one of the best arms in the ACC.
The Hurricanes' starting pitchers, who hadn't allowed more than three earned runs in any start this season prior to Clemson series, were battered by the Tigers last week for 20 runs in three games. That trio of Carlos Gutierrez (7-2, 2.56 ERA), Manny Miguelez (5-2, 2.37 ERA) and Scott Maine (5-1, 3.89 ERA) will need to bounce back against one of the best pitching staffs in the country that features three All-America candidates.
Gutierrez, a sophomore right-hander, will take the mound Friday against southpaw Andrew Miller (6-0, 1.34). Miller is widely considered one of the best, if not the best, pitchers in the nation. He has shown it of late, earning ACC Pitcher of the Week honors the last two weeks by shutting down national powers Georgia Tech and Florida State.
Sophomore lefty Miguelez heads to the hill Saturday against righty Robert Woodard (3-1, 3.23 ERA) and Maine will face Daniel Bard (3-2, 4.43 ERA) in the series finale.
Miami's starters and offense must work together to build a lead before handing the reins over to the Hurricanes' bullpen. Setup men Jon McLean (1-0, 1.00 ERA), Andrew Lane (1-0, 3.60 ERA) and Danny Gil (1.88 ERA, .168 opponent average) and closer Chris Perez (seven saves, 1.96 ERA) have been nearly flawless when given a lead this season.
Miami Catcher Eddy Rodriguez Named To Johnny Bench Watch List
Junior listed among nation's elite catchers
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) - University of Miami junior catcher Eddy Rodriguez was named to the official watch list for the 2006 Coleman Company Johnny Bench Award by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission on Thursday afternoon. The Johnny Bench Award recognizes the top NCAA Division I catcher in the country.
Rodriguez, a graduate of Coral Gables High School is the only catcher from an Atlantic Coast Conference School on the watch list. Recruited primarily as a defensive catcher, Rodriguez has blossomed into an offensive force at Miami. He is second on the team with a .348 average and leads the Hurricanes with six home runs and a .640 slugging percentage. Rodriguez has also thrown out nine of 19 runners attempting to steal this season.
Thirty-four of the nation's top catchers join Rodriguez on the watch list. The watch list will be narrowed down to ten semi-finalists, whom will be announced May 11, 2006. A comprehensive biography will be created on each of the semi-finalists and sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced May 31, 2006 prior to the NCAA Regionals and Major League Baseball Draft. A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced at the 9th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 28, 2006.
Rodriguez and the 17th-ranked Hurricanes will be back in action on Friday night against No. 6 North Carolina. The first pitch is set for 7 p.m. at Mark Light Field.
For more information about the Coleman Company - Johnny Bench Award, visit www.wichitasports.com or call (316) 265-6236.
