March 20, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest returns to the diamond this weekend when it takes on ACC rival Miami in a three-game series in Coral Gables. The Demon Deacons dropped their only contest during the mid-week, a 22-6 loss at Appalachian State. Wake's game at Elon on Wednesday was postponed due to rain. The loss to the Mountaineers put the Deacons at 11-7 overall this season. Wake Forest is 4-2 in ACC play with series defeats of Clemson and Maryland. This weekend will be the Deacs' first road test in conference play. Miami comes in at 15-2 overall and 5-1 in the league. The No. 5-ranked Hurricanes are coming off a pair of mid-week wins against Cornell and NJIT.

Miami Insider
Miami is ranked in the top six in the country in all of the major polls, including a No. 2 ranking by Rivals.com. The Hurricanes have played all but three of their games this season at Mark Light Field, holding a 13-1 mark at the facility. In last weekend's series at NC State, Miami took two of three from the Wolfpack. Miami swept Boston College at home in its first ACC action of the season on March 7-9. Wake Forest and Miami have played one common non-conference opponent this season in Penn State. The Hurricanes defeated the Nittany Lions, 10-0, at home on March 11. The Deacons picked up a 15-4 win against PSU on March 2 in Dothan, Ala. Jemile Weeks leads the Canes with a .426 batting average. Weeks, Yonder Alonso and Jason Hagerty have each hit four home runs, while Alonso leads the team with 21 RBIs. Blake Tekotte has stolen eight bases in nine attempts. On the mound, Chris Hernandez leads the staff with a 1.03 ERA in 26.1 innings pitched. Eric Erickson has a team-high four wins, while Carlos Gutierrez leads with four saves in a team-high nine appearances.

Deacs vs. Canes
Miami leads the all-time series with Wake Forest, 14-5. The series dates back to the 1987 season when the teams met in a two-game non-conference series on Feb. 24-25 in Coral Gables. Miami took both of those meetings and has won eight of nine contests played at Mark Light Field. The Canes are 6-4 against the Deacs since joining the ACC. The series is tied 1-1 in ACC Tournament play, with Miami winning a 2006 matchup and Wake taking a 2007 postseason contest.

On Deck
Wake Forest returns to action with a pair of mid-week games. The Deacons will host UNC Asheville on Tuesday at 3 p.m. before traveling to Charlotte for a 6 p.m. contest with the 49ers.