Morris looks to ACC tourney, thinks 2-3 wins can qualify for regionals

The 29-26 baseball team needs a strong showing at the ACC Tournament to keep its 44-year strong NCAA regional streak alive.

Is that extra pressure on Jim Morris’ team?

“No question - it’s been talked about a lot, the streak is unmatched in any sport in NCAA history,” Morris said Monday. “It’s one that adds a little bit of extra pressure. But our guys are used to dealing with that pressure and people talking about it.”

Under a new format, the Hurricanes will try to emerge from four three-team pools to reach the ACC title game. As part of Pool C No. 6 seed UM will first face No. 11 seed Georgia Tech on Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Louisville, Ky. Miami then faces No. 3 Wake Forest on Thursday at 3 p.m.

“We’re excited to be here,” Morris said. “We finished strong, I feel like. We got some guys back that were hurt. Looking forward to playing.”

If Miami advances the Canes would play the winner of Pool B on Saturday at 5 p.m. and the ACC title game is Sunday at noon.

Morris said Evan McKendry (4-2, 3.24 ERA, six starts) will start game 1 as Morris will save the weekend pitchers for what hopes is a deep tourney run.

“He’s throwing very well,” Morris said. “We’re excited he’s pitching on Tuesday and we’ll go from there.”

The Hurricanes took two of three games at home vs. Georgia Tech during the regular season, but that was back in March.

“I can tell you we played very poorly (in that series vs. UM), I can tell you that,” Georgia Tech coach Danny Hall said. “To Miami’s credit they’re above .500 in our league, and anybody finishing above .500 in your league that’s definitely a feather in your cap. There are so many good teams in our league. They’re definitely battle tested like we are.”

UM faced the Demon Deacons at home March 31-April 2 and dropped two of three.

The Canes enter the tournament as winners of the last four, including a 10 inning thriller most recently against Virginia Tech.

Miami’s subpar season has been in part due to injuries along with poor hitting (.229 batting average, 32 home runs), some fielding mistakes and pitching that at times has been inconsistent.

“What’s gone right? Next question … just kidding,” Morris said, adding “we got hit hard by the draft, lose our catcher to surgery, our first baseman has back surgery, our shortstop misses half the season, our centerfielder has (offseason) surgery and Cooper Hammond (was hurt and missed much of the season). We’re a private school, don’t have financial aid, it make a difference.

“The good news is we have our first baseman back, (SS Johnny) Ruiz is back, (Carl) Chester in centerfield. I think we’ve got better the last 10, 15 games. The guys busted their butt all year, played hard, worked hard in practice.”

Asked what the team needs at the tournament in order to make NCAA regionals, Morris said, “We need two or three wins. Two wins puts you in the semifinals, finish in the top four in the tournaments, six in the regular season - last year 10 teams got in. … Hopefully that type of combination will get us in. But we can’t take a chance, have to try to win the tournament.

“We haven’t had this situation since I’ve been at Miami, because we’ve always been worried about hosting.”

2017 ACC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

May 23-28 at Louisville Slugger Field, Louisville, Ky.

Tuesday, May 23

No. 10 Georgia Tech vs. No. 6 Miami, 11 a.m. (RSN)

No. 11 Boston College vs. No. 7 NC State, 3 p.m. (RSN)

No. 9 Duke vs. No. 5 Clemson, 7 p.m. (RSN)

Wednesday, May 24

No. 12 Notre Dame vs. No. 8 Florida State, 11 a.m. (RSN)

No. 2 North Carolina vs. No. 11 Boston College, 3 p.m. (RSN)

No. 3 Wake Forest vs. No. 10 Georgia Tech, 7 p.m. (RSN)

Thursday, May 25

No. 4 Virginia vs. No. 9 Duke, 11 a.m. (RSN)

No. 6 Miami vs. No. 3 Wake Forest, 3 p.m. (RSN)

No. 1 Louisville vs. No. 12 Notre Dame, 7 p.m. (RSN)

Friday, May 26

No. 5 Clemson vs. No. 4 Virginia, 11 a.m. (RSN)

No. 8 Florida State vs. No. 1 Louisville, 3 p.m. (RSN)

No. 7 NC State vs. No. 2 North Carolina, 7 p.m. (RSN)

Saturday, May 27

Pool A Winner vs. Pool D Winner, 1 p.m. (RSN)

Pool B Winner vs. Pool C Winner, 5 p.m. (RSN)

Sunday, May 28

ACC Championship, Noon (ESPN2)