No. 6 Hurricanes, Eagles Set for Midweek Clash

Miami 24-8 (11-4 Atlantic Coast)
    Roster | Coaches | Schedule/Results | Stats
    UBaseball History | Digital Guide      
   
    Twitter: @CanesBaseball
    Facebook: /HurricaneSports
    Blog: UBaseball

FGCU (12-20, 5-7 Atlantic Sun)
    Roster | Schedule/Results | Stats

    Twitter: @FGCUBaseball
    Facebook: /FGCUAthletics

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — After sweeping No. 3 North Carolina over the weekend, the Hurricanes return to the diamond on Wednesday for the second rendition of their season series with the Eagles of Florida Gulf Coast University. Miami took the first in-state match-up 3-0 way back on February 22 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Fla. The Eagles will be looking to record their first ever win against Miami in their ninth try on Wednesday at Alex Rodriguez Park. The two teams will meet for the final time this season, also in Coral Gables, on May 15.

Midweek Warriors
The Hurricanes, facing many talented in-state competitors in their midweek matchups, have racked up an impressive 7-1 record in games taking place on either Tuesday or Wednesday. Those wins include an impressive 3-0 victory at Florida Gulf Coast, home and away wins against the Owls of Florida Atlantic, a 3-2 win at UCF in a hostile environment, a come-from-behind victory over Illinois State, and their recent win over St. Thomas University. The only loss was to No. 14 UCF last Wednesday, April 5.

Last Time Out…
The Hurricanes took game one of their 2012 series with the Eagles by a final score of 3-0 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Fla on Feb. 22. With then-midweek starter Steven Ewing on the mound, the Canes’ pitching staff held FGCU to only three hits through nine innings, striking out 10 batters. Ewing earned his first win of the season in the game, backed offensively by Peter O’Brien’s 4-for-4 performance and a two-RBI game from Brad Fieger.

Big Recognition for a Big Performance….
For his perfect six innings of relief (18 up, 18 down) in Saturday’s 4-3 walk-off win over No. 3 North Carolina, junior righthander E.J. Encinosa picked up a number of accolades. On Monday, Encinosa was named ACC Pitcher of the Week for his performance, while on Tuesday, he earned recognition from College Baseball 360 as a Primetime Performer.

Scouting the Competition: Florida Gulf Coast
Though they find themselves in the middle of the Atlantic Sun standings with a 5-7 coonference record, the Eagles (12-20) have recorded some impressive wins thus far through their 2012 campaign.

The Eagles pitched a combined three-hitter in a win against No. 2 Florida State on April 4, and have also won games against Michigan (Feb. 29), Boston College (March 4), and a near-win over No. 4 Florida before falling in late innings 3-2.

Offensively, the Eagles are led by Brandon Bednar (.278 average, 13 RBI’s), Andrew Valencia (six homeruns, 30 RBI’s) and Ryan Gebhart (two homeruns, seven stolen bases). On the mound, Ricky Knapp (4-3, 1.95 ERA) and Jason Forjet (2.77 ERA) have impressed in their roles as starters for the Eagles.

PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI: RHP Javi Salas (3-1, 3.20 ERA) vs. FGCU: RHP Zack Tillery (0-0, 2.45 ERA)