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Struggling Florida State and Miami baseball teams meet in Coral Gables

By Alan Rubenstein

OMAHA, NE - JUNE 16: The Miami Hurricanes hold up the NCAA trophy after their win over the Stanford Cardinal during the Finals of the College World Series on June 16, 2001 at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. The Hurricanes won 12-1. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - JUNE 16: The Miami Hurricanes hold up the NCAA trophy after their win over the Stanford Cardinal during the Finals of the College World Series on June 16, 2001 at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. The Hurricanes won 12-1. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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With both teams struggling after stellar starts to the 2019 season the Florida State and Miami baseball teams meet in a three-game series in Coral Gables this weekend.

Florida State began the season 12-0 but have lost ten of their last 16 games. The Miami baseball team began the season 15-3 but has lost eight of their last 11. The weekend series could be key as both teams hope to improve their NCAA Tournament resume.

The Seminoles enter the weekend coming off a 3-2 loss to Jacksonville and losing two out of three to Boston College last weekend. FSU is in third place in the ACC Atlantic Divison at 6-6 and are 18-10 overall. Miami baseball is a half-game behind overall at 18-11 and is a game behind the Seminoles in the ACC at 5-7.

The series is a cross-section of a generation of coaches. It will be the only meeting between Miami’s Gino DiMare and Florida State’s Mike Martin unless they play in the ACC Tournament. Martin’s first game as Florida State’s head coach was on February 22, 1980. He has coached 205 games against the Hurricanes in his career.

Miami has not won the season series against Florida State since 2008. The Seminoles won two out of three in Tallahassee last season. Martin’s 2005 career wins are the NCAA Record by a baseball coach. Martin has taken the Seminoles to the College World Series in Omaha 16 times, but they have not won a title.

Miami College World Series titles during Martin’s tenure. Former coaches Ron Fraser and Jim Morris won two each. Martin’s inability to lead the Seminoles to a College World Series title has earned him the moniker “The Lord of No Rings.”

Friday’s pregame will feature Florida State alum Manny Diaz throwing out the first pitch and a ceremony honoring Martin. The pregame will also feature a celebration of the anniversary of Miami’s 1999 College World Series title. The Hurricanes defeated the Seminoles 6-5 in the title game.

The Hurricanes will also honor the 1999 national championship team on Saturday, as they celebrate the 20th anniversary of clinching the program’s third national title with a 6-5 win over the Seminoles.

Miami’s turnaround in hitting this season has been nothing short of miraculous. After an anemic offense the last two seasons, Miami has one of the best offenses in the ACC this season. The Hurricanes lead the ACC with a .299 batting average and are second in home runs and slugging. FSU leads the ACC in on-base percentage.

"SERIES INFORMATIONDates: Friday, April 5, 2019 – Sunday, April 7, 2019Game Times (ET): 7:00 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m.Site: Coral Gables, Fla. | Mark Light Field (4,999)FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES (18-10, 6-6 ACC)Head Coach: Mike Martin (Florida State, 1966)Career Division I Record: 2005-723-4 (40th season) | Record at FSU: sameMIAMI HURRICANES (18-11, 5-7 ACC)Head Coach: Gino DiMare (Miami, 1992)Career Division I Record: 18-11 (first season) | Record at Miami: sameCourtesy of HurricaneSports.Com"

Florida State and Miami’s pitchers have been inconsistent this season. The Hurricanes are eighth in the ACC with a 4.17 ERA and Florida State is 10th at 4.63. Expect to see a lot of offense this weekend. That should especially be true on Sunday when the ball carries during the day at Mark Light Stadium.

"Pitching MatchupsFlorida StateFriday: JR LHP Drew Parrish (3-2, 5.94 ERA)Saturday: SO RHP CJ Van Eyk (3-2, 4.54 ERA)Sunday: SO LHP Shane Drohan (2-0, 1.67 ERA)MiamiFriday: JR RHP Evan McKendry (4-1, 4.57 ERA)Saturday: SO RHP Chris McMahon (1-2, 5.40 ERA)Sunday: R-JR RHP Brian Van Belle (4-2, 3.23 ERA)Broadcast InformationTV: ACC Network Extra (all home games)Flagship Radio: 790 The Ticket (Saturday)Spanish Radio: 990 AM ESPN Deportes (Sunday)Student Radio: WVUM 90.5 FM | WVUM.org (all games)Twitter Updates: @CanesBaseball / @MiamiHurricanesLive Stats: HurricaneSports.com"

Martin’s final trip to Coral Gables brings the end of an era. Martin against Fraser and then Morris meant matchups of legendary coaches. Fraser is in the College Baseball Hall of Fame and Morris and Martin will be eventually be inducted. All three had immense impacts on college baseball.

Next. Miami baseball 8th best nationally producing MLB talent since 1999. dark

After the series against the Seminoles Miami will play the first two of a three-game season series against Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday and Wednesday. The teams will play Tuesday in Coral Gables and Wednesday in Fort Myers. The season series will conclude April 16 in Coral Gables.

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