Arkansas will play Miami in an elimination game at the College World Series Monday.
The Hurricanes have been one of the best baseball teams in the country this season, with an overall record of 49-16 and an ACC record of 22-8, but they were blown out by Florida 15-3 in their opening game in Omaha.
It was Miami’s worst loss of the season, surpassing a 10-run loss to Florida State in April.
The Razorbacks have never beaten the Hurricanes. Miami swept a three-game series in Coral Gables, Florida, in 1985 and won the two teams’ only other matchup in Minneapolis in 2001.
Here are five things to know about this year’s Miami team:
Offensive Juggernaut: While it was Florida piling up the runs Saturday, the Hurricanes have had one of the most explosive offenses in college baseball this season. Their 541 runs scored lead the country and is 36 more than the next team. Miami has scored at least 10 runs 19 times, at least 15 runs eight times and at least 20 runs four times in 65 games. Its season-high came against NYIT on May 8, when the Hurricanes won 26-0.
Power Bats: Miami can hit for average – its .311 batting average coming into the College World Series ranked sixth in the country – but the Hurricanes also have a lot of power. As a team, they have hit 62 home runs, which is 11th in the NCAA and third among teams in power-five conferences. The Hurricanes are led by junior David Thompson and sophomore Zack Collins. Thompson has 19 home runs, which is one behind Arkansas’ Andrew Benintendi for the NCAA lead, while Collins has 15.
Fresh Arms: During Saturday’s blowout loss to Florida, the Hurricanes used eight pitchers. However, only one – starting left-hander Andrew Suarez – threw more than one inning and 19 pitches. With a day of rest before playing Arkansas, Miami shouldn’t have any bullpen restrictions, which is good news for the Hurricanes, as their bullpen had a 2.03 ERA before Saturday.
Good Genes: Miami left fielder Jacob Heyward is the younger brother of St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jason Heyward. He is batting .320 with three home runs and 20 RBIs in 19 starts for the Hurricanes. He went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Saturday’s loss to Florida.
MLB Talent: The Hurricanes had five players taken in the 2015 MLB Draft. Their highest pick was Suarez, who started Saturday’s game. He went to the San Francisco Giants in the second round (61st overall). Thompson was the next player off the board for Miami, as the New York Mets took him in the fourth round (119th overall). Second baseman George Iskenderian (Milwaukee Brewers, seventh round, 211th overall), designated hitter/catcher Garrett Kennedy (Los Angeles Dodgers, 14th round, 432nd overall) and center fielder Ricky Eusebio (Seattle Mariners, 16th round, 485th overall) were also drafted.
Bonus: Miami is one of college baseball’s traditional powerhouses. The Hurricanes have made an NCAA-record 42 straight regionals and been to the College World Series 24 times, which is second-most in the country (Texas, 35). They have won the championship four times, with the most recent coming in 2001. Miami coach Jim Morris is the fourth-winningest active coach (1,484 wins) and has led the Hurricanes to 12 College World Series appearances and two titles.