Hurricanes look to keep winning under Morris in regionals

CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA - Not much changes in South Florida come NCAA regional time. Miami makes a regional. Miami hosts a regional. Miami wins a regional. Repeat.<br> <br> Playing host to its 20th regional this weekend with North Carolina State, Florida Atlantic and St. Bonaventure in attendance, the Hurricanes don&#39;t expect anything to change with this postseason. Miami hasn&#39;t lost a regional at Mark Light Stadium since 1990.<br> <br> But while the Hurricanes&#39; postseason success may appear to make their task easy, this season has been anything but simple.<br> <br> Injuries have tripped up the Hurricanes, knocking five starters out of the lineup at one time or another. Coach Jim Morris compensated with a patchwork batting order sprinkled with unproven freshman.<br> <br> ``We&#39;ve been through a unique season,&#39;&#39; said Morris, who is 31-3 at home in the postseason and has never lost a postseason tournament at home. ``At times this season, I&#39;ve felt like I was the next guy that had to go in, because we&#39;ve had a lot of injuries.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Foremost among the losses was shortstop Ryan Braun. A freshman All-American a season ago, Braun missed nearly two months with a strained rib cage and was replaced by freshman Roger Tomas. Braun played last week against Long Beach State and figures to be back in the lineup in Miami&#39;s regional opener against St. Bonaventure.<br> <br> Tomas and two other freshmen, left fielder Jon Jay and closer Danny Gil, have learned fast and pushed Miami into the forefront of the national title race.<br> <br> ``The experience factor is still there whether it&#39;s sitting on the bench or still playing,&#39;&#39; Morris said. ``They&#39;ve gotten a lot of experience, they don&#39;t feel like freshmen, and they&#39;re confident in themselves. No question, our older guys help out the younger guys just being around them.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The experience will be needed with a potential matchup with N.C. State looming. The Wolfpack (35-22) enter with two dominating pitchers in Vern Sterry (9-2, 1.99 ERA) and Michael Rogers (9-3, 2.30 ERA). The Wolfpack are also out for some revenge after being knocked out of the super regional by Miami last season.<br> <br> Meanwhile, Florida Atlantic coach Kevin Cooney said his team enters the regional fired up and with a ``a chip on their shoulder&#39;&#39; after the Owls (45-15) felt slighted by their No. 3 seeding in the regional.<br> <br> The Owls, who face N.C. State in the regional opener, have also benefited from a little motivation courtesy of Miami. The Owls were humbled by the Hurricanes 13-3 in a mid-May game that Cooney calls embarrassing. FAU has not lost since, sweeping through the Atlantic Sun Tournament for their first conference title.<br> <br> FAU is no stranger to Coral Gables, entering their fourth regional here. Last season, the Owls lost 1-0 to the Hurricanes in the regionals, but Cooney said his team is ready to start winning regionals and not just playing for them.<br> <br> ``You&#39;re tired of (moral wins),&#39;&#39; Cooney said. ``You&#39;re tired of saying `Well we proved we can do this.&#39; I want to prove that we can win those close games at some point.&#39;&#39;

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