3-2 Miami After 7... And Let's Take a Look at the Schedules
By Adam Aizer - February 11, 2007
Two innings to play at Mark Light. Six outs left for UCLA to avoid being swept. The Hurricanes lost their 2-0 lead in the top of the sixth, but scored a run in the bottom of the sixth on a Roger Tomas RBI single. Miami started that inning with a leadoff triple. The Hurricanes have done a much better job than UCLA this weekend taking advantage of leadoff hits. It's really been the difference so far.
Manny Miguelez has thrown seven great innings, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him come out for the eighth. Enrique Garcia is warming up for the Canes. He pitched well in the eighth inning on last night. If I'm managing, Miguelez pitches the eighth and Garcia pitches the ninth.
It's 3-2 Hurricanes entering the top of the eighth. Things don't look great for UCLA, but at least this gives this young team experience against top competition.
Taking a peek at the UCLA schedule, it's clear that this team will be tested by the end of the regular season. It starts right away with a Tuesday game at home against UC Riverside. It doesn't matter who you're playing when you have to fly across the country on Sunday night after a grueling three-game series at Miami, then play again on Tuesday. Later in the year, UCLA will be at Cal State Fullerton, Mississippi, Stanford, USC, and Arizona State. They'll host the national champions Oregon State in the final weekend of the regular season. Their schedule has been ranked as the third toughest by Boyd's World.
Miami's out of conference schedule will get much easier after next weekend's three-game series at the University of Florida. But in the ACC, you don't have to worry about playing good competition. The ACC boasts five top 10 teams (Clemson, UNC, Miami, Virginia, Georgia Tech) and FSU is no slouch either. The Canes are at UNC, Virginia, and Clemson. They'll get FSU and Georgia Tech at home.
By the way, Garcia will pitch the eighth. Seven innings for Miguelez with only two runs allowed.
Posted by Adam Aizer at 03:32 PM on February 11, 2007
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