Canes drop a close one to FIU 4-2

The Hurricanes lost a hard-fought game to FIU by a score of 4-2.

Joey Miller tossed 3 2/3 innings and struck out three while allowing five hits and three earned runs in his first start of the season. Michael Fredette and Vince Panvini combined to throw 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

The Miami offense was only able to muster five hits and two unearned runs in the loss to FIU.

The Hurricanes' next action is this Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m. against UCF (#15). Saturday's doubleheader and Sunday's game will be played at Walker Park.

Canes defeat FIU 2-0 on Opening Day

The University of Miami club baseball team notched a win on Opening Day by defeating FIU by a score of 2-0 at Walker Park.

The Canes benefited from a dominant start by Dan Briggi. Briggi tossed a one-hit shutout by striking out 11 and allowing just one runner to reach scoring position.

Right fielder, Nick Ferraro, tallied three hits and the go-ahead RBI in the third inning. Ryan Rodriguez-Mena added an insurance RBI in the sixth inning while collecting two hits.

The Hurricanes are back in action tonight against FIU at Walker Park. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

Five Canes named to All-Region Team

Hurricanes club baseball secured five spots on the South Atlantic All-Region Team, the most in program history.

Rich Moriarty and Dan Briggi will return next season to anchor the lineup and pitching staff.

Right fielder Brian Castles and first baseman/DH Rich Moriarty were named to the first team. Castles led the Hurricanes in almost every offensive category, posting a .409/.463/.624 slash line while tallying 26 RBI to go along with three homers and 11 doubles. Moriarty hit .302 and slugged .430 while providing clutch hits such as the walk-off double to beat USF in the bottom of the ninth.

Additionally, third baseman Beau Hauser, catcher Matt Fernandez, and starting pitcher Dan Briggi were named to the second team. Hauser and Fernandez hit .372 and .348, respectively, and both drove in more than 10 runs. Briggi led the team in wins with five and the nation in strikeouts with 75 to go along with an impressive complete game victory over regional champ Florida.

"I'm very proud of these guys," said head coach Mike North. "Not only is this a great honor for them individually, but it's also positive recognition for the University of Miami."

All five Hurricanes will return next season to lead the program beyond its 15-13 record and fourth-place conference finish in 2014.

Castles and Moriarty are the first Hurricane club baseball players to be named First Team All-Region since second baseman Trevor Rohn in 2012. Rohn is best remembered for crushing three homers against FIU on the last day of the season en route to an impressive .368/.451/.603 slash line.

Canes to play UCF at Mark Light Field

The University of Miami club baseball team will host the Knights of UCF at Mark Light Field on March 29 for a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.

UCF won the South Atlantic Conference last season with a 10-2 record and finished 23-5 overall while the Hurricanes finished third in the conference at 6-6 and 14-9 overall. The two rivals clashed six times last year with the Hurricanes posting a 2-4 record against the Knights.

Mark Light Field, a jewel in Coral Gables.

"Both teams figure to contend for the playoffs, and we will be playing them in the make-or-break part of the season," said head coach Mike North.

Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park is hallowed ground in Coral Gables. Originally constructed in 1973, the on-campus stadium underwent several renovations over the years with the most recent completed in 2009. Thanks to a $3.9 million donation from Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees, Mark Light Field can now accommodate 5,000 spectators.

"I'm looking forward to this UCF series on campus," said pitcher Dan Briggi. "I'm excited to play in front of a larger contingent of student fans."

The UM club baseball team will need the support from the student body. The Hurricanes last played at Mark Light Field in 2010 and were swept in a three-game series by a talented Florida Gators team.

"We played three close games against UF that were decided by just a few plays," said North. "I know with the support of the student body and stands full of UM supporters, our team will be able to make those plays and grab the wins we need. It will be an amazing atmosphere."

Take a peak at the Canes' 2014 schedule

We're officially in winter, but that simply means spring is right around the corner. And with that comes Opening Day.

The Canes celebrate a win in Orlando against UCF.

The University of Miami club baseball team opens the season at home against city rival Florida International University on Feb. 1 and 2. UM has a 5-2 record against FIU.

The University of South Florida comes to Miami the following weekend on Feb. 8 and 9. The first-year program hopes to officially enter the NCBA in 2015.

After six non-conference games, UM travels to Tallahassee to take on Florida State on Feb. 15 and 16 to open the conference schedule. The Hurricanes dropped two-out-of-three to the Noles but won with a dramatic walk-off double from Rich Moriarty last year.

"Going on the road is very fun," said pitcher Sal Maffei. "We grow together as a team and usually play our best games."

The Hurricanes come back home to face the Gators of Florida in a rematch of last year's do-or-die final series that saw UF triumph on the last day of the season. That conference series against UM's archrivals is slated for Feb. 22 and 23.

After spring break, the Hurricanes go on the road to play Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Meyers on March 22 and 23 in a conference series. Miami went 5-1 against FGCU last year as the Eagles were transitioning into the NCBA.

In what figures to be one of the most important conference series of the season, UM will square off against UCF March 29 and 30 in Miami. The Hurricanes went 2-4 against last year's conference champions, but the contests were close and competitive.

"I'm looking forward to the UCF series the most," said pitcher Dan Briggi. "I'm excited to play in front of a larger contingent of student fans."

Jalen Eutsey mans second base against Florida State.

The Hurricanes wrap up their season with a conference rematch against FIU April 5 and 6 before going on the road to Melbourne to face Florida Tech in a conference series April 12 and 13. Miami went 5-0 against Florida Tech last season.

"Our schedule is challenging from the very beginning through the last game," said head coach Mike North. "We have important games against rivals early, games with conference title implications in the middle, and certainly competitive games late in the season. We will need the support from our fans at every home game this season."

The conference playoffs begin May 2 at LaGrange College in Georgia.

Canes add 10 new players to roster

With the semester officially ending this week in Coral Gables, the University of Miami club baseball team has shifted focus from fall workouts to the NCBA season that begins Feb. 1.

The Hurricanes are coming off a 14-win season, their best mark in program history, and have added 10 new players to an already talented roster.

Pitcher Dan Briggi, catcher Matt Fernandez, and head coach Mike North talk pitching during the fall.

On the mound, newcomers Chandler Andrewson, Brian Castles, and Vince Panvini figure to see a lot of innings this season. Andrewson and Panvini, both freshmen, can either start or pitch out of the bullpen. Division I transfer Castles is expected to provide late-inning depth in close games.

"Our pitching staff was a strength last year," said head coach Mike North. "But the arms we've added will take pressure off of our offense."

The offense received a boost with the additions of first baseman Jake Greenberg and outfielder Jimmy Maguire, two sluggers who can expect to hit in the middle of the lineup. Additionally, infielders Beau Hauser and Adam White will see time up the middle. Outfielders James Oliver, Austin Sapin, and Jake Skolnik all figure to improve the defense and team speed while hitting at the top of the order. White also provides depth behind the plate as an additional catcher.

"The position players we added can all hit and have shown an ability to play defense," said North. "But most importantly, the new guys all play with an impressive level of grit. They are tough outs. They will run through walls to help us win."

Both Andrewson and Castles are two-way players. Andrewson figures to see time in the infield and Castles can expect to patrol the corner outfield positions.

"We have a great crop of new talent that will help make us a more complete team come spring," said team president Dan Briggi.

North is UM's club coach of the year

Mike North was selected as the club coach of the year at the University of Miami for the second time.

North has been at the helm of the club baseball team for three seasons, compiling a 37-30 overall record. The last two seasons have been the most successful in UM club baseball history with the team averaging 13 wins per campaign. Prior to North's arrival, the previous season high was six wins.

"Whenever a coach is honored with an award, you have to give credit to the team," said North. "I have been blessed with a tremendous assistant coach in Juan Garciga and a roster full of hungry players who want to win." 

This season came down to the wire with the Hurricanes losing to the Gators in a do-or-die final game in Gainesville. 

"Individual awards are nice, but we're driven to achieve team goals," explained North. "We want to be in the postseason more than anything." 

 

North coaching third base.

Cohn, Moriarty named to All-Region team

Jonathan Cohn and Rich Moriarty were selected to the South Atlantic All-Region team. 

Cohn legs out a single.

Cohn, a sophomore, hit .213 on the season while leading the team in sacrifice bunts and hit-by-pitches. The shortstop tallied two doubles and finished in the top three on the Miami roster in runs scored, stolen bases and walks. Cohn provided additional value with his versatility in being able to play multiple positions and hit anywhere in the order.

"Many other guys were deserving but I think I can speak for the team that this is just a precursor of much greater team recognition in the coming years," said Cohn. "For now, it feels good to have people admire the work you put in all year." 

Moriarty mans the hot corner.

Moriarty was also honored for his stellar campaign. 'The Professor' hit .286 with a slugging percentage of .413. The sophomore third baseman led the team in doubles and finished second in RBI. Moriarty also provided the highlight of the season by driving in the tying and winning runs against Florida State with a walk-off double. 

"I attribute my success at the plate to the support and motivation that comes from my teammates, especially our (new) president, Dan Briggi," said Moriarty. "He's the first one to high-five me after I cross home, and the first one to trash talk me after I strike out... Fires me up every time." 

Briggi could not be reached for comment.  

2013: A year in review

The 2013 campaign was a banner season for the University of Miami club baseball team. Not only did the Hurricanes win more games than ever before, but the team also managed back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in program history. 

Russ Wylie spins a breaking ball.

The Canes nearly qualified for the playoffs as well, pushing the Florida Gators to a do-or-die final game that saw Miami come up short. 

Leading the way, the Miami pitching staff allowed fewer than four runs per game while striking almost seven and walking less than three batters. Starters Sal Maffei, Steven Muraco, and Dan Briggi kept offenses at bay while Doug Christoph, Stephen Ranieri, Kris Kosick, and Russ Wylie slammed the door in the later innings.

The Miami offense was propelled by many important individual performances throughout the season. Tom Harrington led the team in batting average, on-base percentage and in slugging. Matt Fernandez paced the offense with 22 hits, Eric Alvarado stole the most bases, and Jalen Eutsey drew the most walks. Rich Moriarty came up with the most clutch performance of the season by driving in the tying and game-winning runs against rival Florida State in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Hurricanes pitched and hit enough to be successful, but the team's defense led to the 14 wins.    

The team will be back next fall to continue the journey toward the playoffs with new officers Dan Briggi, Sal Maffei, and Rich Moriarty. Along for the ride will be this roster and new additions. The Hurricanes wish the best of luck to departing seniors Ryan Solow, Gavin Good, Matt Corrigan, Miguel Michelangeli, and Chris Curcio.  

Canes say goodbye to five seniors

Matt Corrigan patrols the outfield.

The Miami club baseball team reached new heights this season by winning 14 games, two more than the previous high achieved last year. This success was due in large part to the contributions of outfielders Ryan Solow, Miguel Michelangeli and Matt Corrigan, first baseman Gavin Good, and pitcher Chris Curcio.

These five seniors participated in the program's first double-digit win season, endured a 4-17 campaign, and won 26 games over the past two seasons including wins over ranked opponents such as Florida, Florida State and UCF.

Solow, the team president for the past two seasons, collected two clutch hits and drove in an important RBI in a must-win game against UF. Good and Corrigan chipped in impressive defensive efforts all season and Curcio slammed the door in an important game against Florida Gulf Coast. Michelangeli as one of Miami's most consistent hitters all season by hitting .353 while driving in 10 runs.

These seniors not only contributed between the lines, but also off the field by providing stellar leadership. Solow, Michelangeli, Corrigan, Good, and Curcio will be sorely missed and UM club baseball wishes them the best of luck after graduation.