Baseball Takes Out Florida International 5-2
March 28, 2000
Homestead, FL – Junior RHP Tom Farmer (3-2) got the call to pitch just moments before the game after expected starter Troy Roberson was scratched with a sore elbow. Farmer responded with a career-high 6.1 innings pitched and eight strikeouts in leading the 13th-ranked Miami Hurricanes (23-9-1) to a 5-2 victory over cross-town rival Florida International (24-9) at the Homestead Sports Complex.
In his 6.1 innings pitched, Farmer earned the win with five hits, two runs scored, one earned run, two walks and eight strikeouts. Closer Luke DeBold picked up his sixth save on the season after shutting down the Golden Panthers with no runs allowed over the final 2.1 innings. FIU sophomore Peter Kocur (3-2) was credited with his second consecutive loss after going 5.0 innings with two hits, three runs, two earned runs, three walks and four strikeouts. Miami also tagged FIU reliever Paul Zervas for two more runs in Kocur’s relief.
Miami ties the season-series with FIU, after the Hurricanes dropped a 7-6 rally loss to the Golden Panthers at Mark Light Stadium on March 1. With the win, UM ups its all-time record over FIU to 77-17 since the 1973 season.
The Hurricanes jumped out, 2-0, in the second inning when FIU catcher Al Corbeil committed a throwing error on UM designated hitter Mark Walker’s bunt up the middle. On the play, Walker was advanced all the way to third, while first baseman Danny Matienzo scored from second. Matienzo had earlier reached base on a walk and advanced to second on a Kocur wild pitch. One batter later, second baseman Kris Clute launched a deep sacrifice fly out to left field to score Walker.
Miami extended its lead, 3-0, in the third when third baseman Kevin Howard sent a deep sacrifice fly out to centerfield, scoring left fielder Mike Rodriguez from third. Mike Rodriguez reached base earlier with his third triple of the season.
FIU narrowed the gap, 2-1, in the bottom of the third when third baseman Gus Alfonso scored from third off a Farmer wild pitch. Shortstop Eric Miller struck out swinging on the play, but reached base on the wild pitch. Alfonso led off the inning with a single to shallow center.
Miami went up 5-1 in the sixth when the Hurricanes scored two runs off a bases-loaded situation on FIU reliever Paul Zervas. Clute knocked in the first run with a single up the middle, scoring right fielder Manny Crespo from third. Crespo led off the inning with a walk. The next run came in when shortstop Javy Rodriguez hit into a double play, allowing Matienzo to score from third. Matienzo had gotten base earlier with a single to centerfield.
FIU chipped at the Miami lead with one run in the seventh. FIU centerfielder Barry Paulk reached base with a single to left field and stole second. The next batter, Alfonso, doubled to right center to bring in Paulk.
The Hurricanes return to action on Thursday, March 30 against Harvard at 7 p.m. at Mark Light Stadium on the UM campus. Miami will host the Florida Marlins on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Light. For ticket information call 1-800 GO CANES or 305-284-CANES in Dade county.
