No. 18 Miami Wins Opener Versus Rutgers in Extra Innings

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – With the score knotted at one with a man on third and one away in the bottom of the 11th inning, a deep foul ball to left off the bat of Stephen Perez scored Zeke DeVoss from third to give the 18th-ranked University of Miami baseball team a 2-1 win over Rutgers in its season-opener Friday night at Alex Rodriguez Park.

After some early offense from both teams in the first two innings, the next nine were owned by the pitching staffs as neither team was able to generate any offense. That was until the deciding 11th, when Zeke DeVoss hit a one-out triple to right-center moments before Perez won it for the `Canes.

Junior Sam Robinson (1-0) earned the victory with a scoreless inning of relief work. The left-hander capped off a stellar night by UM’s bullpen, which combined to allow just two hits while striking out six in five scoreless. Freshman Bryan Radziewski earned his first career start for the `Canes and pitched well in the no decision, allowing just the three hits while striking out eight in six innings of work. He was relieved by Adam Sargent, who tossed two scoreless before closer Daniel Miranda matched his effort with two scoreless of his own.

Six `Canes had a hit on the night, but it was DeVoss who was the star of the night for UM. The sophomore leftfielder finished the game 2-for-5 with a double, a triple and a hit-by-pitch. The `Canes picked up right where they left off in 2010 on the base paths, with Perez, Nathan Melendres and Chantz Mack all stealing a base.

Rutgers was led offensively by Steve Nyisztor, who finished the night 2-for-4 with an RBI. Tyler Gebler started and pitched well for the Scarlet Knights, allowing just one unearned run while allowing just three hits in six innings of work. Middle reliever Dan O’Neill then kept the `Canes off the board for 3 1/3 innings before Jerry Elsing (0-1) eventually suffered the loss in allowing the game-winning run to come across.

The Scarlet Knights opened the scoring with a first inning run coming on a Nyisztor RBI single to center after Steven Zavala reached on a double. Rutgers could have added to that run after a walk put runners on first and second with two outs, but Radziewski got Bill Hoerman to fly out to center to end the threat.

From there, Radziewski shook off the early jitters and settled in, allowing just one hit over the next five innings.

Miami tied the game up in the bottom of the second when David Villasuso doubled to center and later scored on a fielding error by second baseman Dan Perrine.

The scoreboard showed zeros the rest of the night until Perez’s deep fly easily plated the speedy DeVoss to give the `Canes a win in their season-opener for the fourth straight season.

The extra-inning contest was the first for Miami in its season-opener since picking up a 1-0 win over Jacksonville in 10 innings on Feb. 28, 1975.

The `Canes will look to secure the season series Saturday at 7 p.m., at Alex Rodriguez Park. Sophomore right-hander E.J. Encinosa is slated to take the mound for the `Canes while Rutgers is expected to counter with lefty Rob Smorol.