Miami baseball tries to break six-game losing streak at FAU

After a 15-3 start, the Miami baseball team has lost six in a row. The Hurricanes try to end the six-game losing streak Wednesday night at FAU.

The six-game losing streak for the Miami baseball team dates to March 16 when they lost the second game of a three-game series at North Carolina. The Hurricanes dropped the final two games in Chapel Hill, at Mark Light Stadium versus Columbia midweek and were swept by NC State in a three-game weekend series at home.

The losing streak has plummeted the Hurricanes from 21st to 38th and now 59th in the RPI. Florida Atlantic enters Wednesday night’s game 16-8 overall. The Owls recently moved up in the RPI from 103rd to 86th. This is the second of a three-game season series against FAU. The teams will conclude next Wednesday in Coral Gables.

Miami won the first meeting 11-4 in Coral Gables on February 20. The Owls had their own six-game losing streak earlier this season. They have since won 14 of their last 16 games. The Owls lost their last game 6-5 at Alabama-Birmingham on Sunday.

Miami Hurricanes

Miami’s bats should be able to get healthy on Wednesday night. FAU is 95th in the country in ERA at 4.20.

The Hurricanes need a better performance from their defense. Three errors in the ninth inning by Miami led to four North Carolina State runs as the Wolfpack came back to win 6-4 and sweep the series.

First baseman Alex Toral is off to a torrid start for Miami. Toral’s 11 home runs put him on pace to tie the program record of 25. Third baseman Phil Lane hit 25 home runs for 1982 national champions Hurricanes in 73 games. Toral is on pace to tie the record in 56 games. The Hurricanes have already surpassed their 2018 total in HRs.

Miami hit 23 home runs last season. The Hurricanes already have 27 as a team in 2019. Miami is third in the ACC and eighth in the country in home runs. The Owls are nearly as prolific in the long ball. FAU is ninth nationally with 22 home runs. Toral leads Miami with 27 RBIs and Sophomore shortstop Freddy Zamora has 25.

"Game InformationDate: Wednesday, March 27, 2019Game Time (ET): 6:30 p.m.Site: Boca Raton, Fla. | FAU Baseball Stadium (1,700)MIAMI HURRICANES (15-9, 3-6 ACC)Head Coach: Gino DiMare (Miami, 1992)Career Division I Record: 15-9 (first season) | Record at Miami: 15-9 (first season)FLORIDA ATLANTIC OWLS (16-8, 5-1 C-USA)Head Coach: John McCormack (Lynn, 1990)Career Division I Record: 376-230-2 (11th season) | Record at FAU: 376-230-2 (11th season)Broadcast and Social Media InformationTV: FAUSports.TVStudent Radio: WVUM 90.5 FM | WVUM.org (all games)Twitter Updates: @CanesBaseball / @MiamiHurricanesLive Stats: HurricaneSports.comPitching MatchupMiami: Proj. Starter: FR RHP Slade Cecconi (3-1, 2.45 ERA)FAU: Proj. Starter: R-SO RHP Ryan Sandberg (0-1, 2.89 ERA)Information Courtesy of HurricaneSports.Com."

The Miami baseball team will conclude a four-game road trip when they travel to Pittsburgh this weekend. This is a must-win series for the struggling Hurricanes. The Panthers enter their Wednesday game at Youngstown State 7-15. After beginning the season 5-0, Pittsburgh has lost 15 of their last 17 games.

After their trip to the Steel City Miami returns home on Wednesday night against FAU for a five-game homestand. The Hurricanes host the Owls next Wednesday, Florida State for a three-game series next weekend and Florida Gulf Coast April 9.