CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Highlighted by seven teams that qualified for the NCAA postseason this past spring, the Miami Hurricanes’ 2016 baseball scheduled was released by head coach Jim Morris Thursday.
Miami, one of eight teams to qualify for the 2015 College World Series, will play 37 of its 56 games at home inside Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field, including half of a challenging 30-game ACC slate.
The Hurricanes open the regular season with 13 consecutive games at Mark Light Field, where Miami finished an impressive 36-5 last season. Rutgers (Feb. 19-21), Florida (Feb. 26-28) and Manhattan (March 4-6) will visit Coral Gables in the early going before conference play begins.
“My goal is always to make our schedule one of the best in the country,” Morris said. “Last year towards the end of the regular season our RPI was No. 1. Having the ACC schedule, in addition to Florida and the other in-state teams that we play, sets us up to have success for postseason seeding.”
Miami will also play a midweek exhibition game in Jupiter, Fla., against the Miami Marlins on March 1. Home midweek games include tilts with FGCU (March 2), Stetson (March 9), UCF (April 13) and FAU (April 20, May 4), as well as defending NAIA national runner-up St. Thomas (Feb. 24).
Included in the Hurricanes’ home conference schedule are weekends against defending ACC Atlantic Division champion Louisville (March 18-20), Clemson (March 25-27), North Carolina (April 1-3) and defending national champion Virginia (April 22-24).
Miami’s road slate includes weekends at Virginia Tech (March 11-13), Notre Dame (April 8-10), Duke (April 15-17) and Georgia Tech (May 7-9). The Hurricanes end the regular season with a trip to Tallahassee, Fla., and a series with rival Florida State (May 19-21) before the ACC Baseball Championship in Durham, N.C.
“Our schedule is pretty comparable to last year’s,” Morris said. “You have to play well, but if you do, your RPI will be good at the end of the year. That’s what we’re focused on.”
Miami opens its season with the First Pitch Banquet (Fri., Feb. 12) and the annual Fan Fest & Alumni Game at Mark Light Field on Feb. 13.
“I think our fans will be excited when they look at our schedule,” Morris said. “Some of the best teams in our conference, and in the country, will be coming to town. There will be some very competitive games at The Light this spring.”
