Baseball Gets Back on Track With 5-3 Win Over Barry
Feb. 15, 2000
Coral Gables, FL – The University of Miami Baseball team (5-5), ranked No. 10 by the Baseball Weekly/ESPN Coaches’ Poll, defeated cross-town neighbor Barry (2-10), 5-3, at Mark Light Stadium on the UM campus. Miami now moves to 16-0 all-time against the Buccaneers.
UM pitcher Tom Farmer (1-2) had a career-high effort in the game, pitching 6.0 innings with nine strikeouts. Farmer allowed five hits, one walk and two runs over the fourth and fifth innings. Closer Luke DeBold earned his second save of the season as he pitched the final inning, striking out all three Barry batters.
Barry’s Dave McLean (0-3) took his third loss of the season as he gave up five runs and nine hits over 7.1 innings.
The Hurricanes jumped out fast, scoring four runs over the first three innings. UM left fielder Marcus Nettles led off the game with a single and proceeded to steal second and third. Second baseman Kris Clute knocked Nettles in with a deep grounder towards the Barry shortstop.
Following a Greg Lovelady double in the second inning, first baseman Kevin Brown hit his first home run of the season just over the left field wall to put the Hurricanes ahead 3-0. Brown led the team in 1999 with 22 home runs.
Designated hitter Lale Esquivel had his team-leading third home run of the season, a deep shot to left center, in the third inning to open up a 4-0 UM lead.
Barry bounced back in the top of the fourth, when Luis Boullon scored from third off a Roger Quiros ground out to UM shortstop Kevin Howard. Earlier, Boullon had reached base with a double off Farmer down the left field line. The Buccaneers put another run on in the fifth when Alex Pinon reached base with a single. He would score with the very next batter when Irain Gonzalez doubled to right center.
UM reliever Greg Howell came in for Farmer to start the seventh. Howell allowed two hits and one run that put Barry within a run, 4-3, of Miami.
Miami answered with one more run in the bottom of the eighth, as Kevin Brown walked in from third off Barry’s Demetrius Davis.
The Hurricanes return to action this weekend with South Florida in a three game series at Mark Light Stadium. Friday and Sunday’s games will be carried by SportsChannel Florida.
