CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Just one week away from officially opening fall practice, University of Miami head baseball coach Jim Morris released the team’s 2014 schedule Monday.
Miami’s 55-game schedule includes 33 contests inside Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field. The Hurricanes finished with a 28-12 record (.700) at home this past season, qualifying for the NCAA postseason for the 41st consecutive year – the longest active streak in collegiate athletics.
“I think it’s one of the tougher schedules that we’ve played since I’ve been in Miami,” Morris said. “With the new ACC teams, plus the ones we already had in the conference, it’s going to be tough. Our nonconference schedule features some of the other great programs in South Florida.”
The Hurricanes will kick off 2014 with their annual preseason festivities: the First Pitch Banquet (Feb. 6), as well as FanFest and the Miami Baseball Alumni Game (Feb. 8).
Miami opens their 2014 slate with a weekend series against Maine (Feb. 14-16). The Hurricanes will host Florida (Feb. 21-23), head north for an exhibition with the Miami Marlins in Jupiter, Fla. (Feb. 26), and travel to Dick Howser Stadium for a series with Florida State (Feb. 28 – March 2) before opening conference play at home against Boston College (March 7-9).
Miami’s final two weekends in February feature series against rivals Florida and Florida State. The Hurricanes’ series against the Seminoles will not count towards conference standings. The two programs will resume matchups with conference implications in 2015.
“It’s been done for a long time. We have a great rivalry with both programs,” Morris said. “There are a lot of Florida and Florida State fans across this state, and it’s important to play both of those schools every year.”
Miami will wrap up its regular season with a home series against North Carolina (May 15-17) before a potential trip to Greensboro, N.C., and the 2014 ACC Baseball Championship (May 20-25).
“I’m very excited,” Morris said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the younger guys compete against our veterans. We have a good nucleus returning, our recruiting class has been rated highly, and I’m excited to see them compete to see just how good we are.”
To view the team’s full 2014 schedule, click HERE.
