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Coral Gables Super Regional
North Carolina State (45-18) at No. 8 Miami (Fla.) (44-15-1)
Mark Light Field, Coral Gables, Fla.
Series history: Miami leads 10-4
Season history: Miami 2-0
Coral Gables Super Regional schedule
Saturday, June 7
Game 1 - Miami (Fla.) 10, NC State 9
Sunday, June 8
Game 2 - Miami (Fla.) 11, NC State 5, 11 innings (Miami advances to CWS)
Miami Hurricanes
NCAA Tournament appearance: 32nd (31st in a row)
CWS appearances (last): 20 (2003)
2003 Home record: 29-7-1
Prominent MLB alumni: Pat Burrell, Aubrey Huff, Charles Johnson
Hurricane notes (entering Super Regional)
Although Miami won a regional for the 10th straight year, it was unranked in the preseason by Baseball America. Out of the three starting pitchers and eight position players from 2002, only CF Danny Figueroa is back at the same position. 1B Jim Burt started last year in RF.
It's been an up and down season for the Canes. They had some shaky non-conference losses, swept Georgia Tech, went 1-4-1 vs. FSU and then closed the regular season by taking 2 of 3 at Long Beach St.
There is not a senior on this year's team, and junior Jim Burt was the only player drafted (35th round). Burt is the son of former Giants and 49ers defensive lineman Jim Burt.
True freshman SS Ryan Braun leads the team in batting (.376), HR (15) and RBI (70); 2B Adam Ricks is a JuCo transfer, and 3B Gaby Sanchez is also a true freshman.
Ace J.D. Cockroft, who has a fastball in the 80s and a change-up in the 50s, threw a complete game one-hitter in the Regional vs. Florida Atlantic.
Closer George Huguet broke his pitching hand on May 18 (after punching a locker) and is hopeful to return for this weekend.
Shawn Valdes-Fauli, who took over the closer role the last two weeks, lost his brother this season. His brother's name is written underneath his cap.
Former Miami pitcher J.D. Arteaga took over as pitching coach during the season (March 4) after the previous coach resigned because of NCAA penalties.
NC State Wolfpack
NCAA Tournament appearance: 17th
CWS appearances (last): 1 (1968)
Prominent MLB alumni: Dan Plesac
Wolfpack notes (entering Super Regional)
The "Cardiac Pack" are 11-2 in one-run games this season, 7-4 in two-run games.
They have come from behind in 20 of their 45 wins.
4-0 when tied after 6 innings, 6-0 when tied after seven and 5-0 when tied after eight.
4 of their last 6 games have gone to extra innings, entering the Super Regional.
With their home park being renovated, the Wolfpack played only 10 true home games in 2003. Most of their practices were held indoors or at high school fields.
The pitching staff has held together in the face of adversity. State's two most experienced returning pitchers had summer arm surgery and missed the season, the closer was declared academically ineligible, and the pitching coach left a week before the season started. The team played about 40 games without a pitching coach.
RHP Vern Sterry, the Game 2 starter, is 11-0 with a 3.04 ERA.
Joey Devine has the win or the save in 20 of the team's 45 victories. He leads the ACC with a 2.03 ERA and ranks second nationally with 14 saves.
Colt Morton was the Regional MVP with three home runs, including a 14th-inning blast to win the championship game. He is a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award to the nation's top catcher, along with Garko of Stanford and Richie of FSU.
RF Joe Gaetti is the son of former All-Star 3B Gary Gaetti
Brad Edwards is a college sports researcher for ESPN.
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