Erickson Misses Start; Canes Play "Terrible"

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Freshman starter LHP Eric Erickson got hit in the arm during pregame and was scratched from the starting lineup 15 minutes prior to Friday night’s game against Georgia Tech.

RHP Alex Koronis made his first career start in his place, but did not get through three innings and took the loss as UM fell to 18-14 on the season with a 9-2 defeat.

“It was a terrible game for us,” UM coach Jim Morris said. “We played the game terrible. We walked guys, we hit guys, we didn’t hit with guys on base, we missed signs, and we played the game like we didn’t know how to play the game…we’re lucky we didn’t get beat worse than we did.”

Eric Erickson (4-3, 1.96 ERA in 46 IP) has been one of the few bright spots this season for the Hurricanes. He is not expected to miss his next start.

Sophomore 1B Yonder Alonso has been the team’s best hitter this season and leads the team in a number of statistical categories including batting average (.369), home runs (8), runs batted in (37), total bases (71), stolen bases (9), slugging percent (.640), and on-base percent (.493).

“It is not a one-man show, unfortunately,” said Alonso, following Miami’s loss to Georgia Tech. “It is not like a basketball team where one guy can just dominate all game. I do my part and the other guys have to do their part as well as the pitchers.”

Alonso believes the team needs to start picking up their intensity at home in order to finish strong.

“I just feel we have no fire here at home like we did back in the 1990s with the Miami teams,” Alonso said. “I remember when I was a kid and I used to come here, it was like we were men playing against boys. We aren’t doing that right now. It is a lack of fire in the dugout and it is something that we need to learn to do.”

For Miami to turn around their season they will need to have to have players step up including LHP Scott Maine (2-5, 4.42 ERA), RHP Danny Gil (2-0, 4.66 ERA), 2B Jemile Weeks (.270-3-10), and OF Dennis Raben (.245-5-19).

The Hurricanes will host Georgia Tech today at 1 p.m. in game two of the series. LHP Scott Maine (2-5, 4.42 ERA) will make his ninth start of the season.