Baseball Defeated by Florida Atlantic 7-2
Feb. 9, 2000
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Defending National Champion Miami Hurricanes (4-3) had its 14-game win streak over nearby Florida Atlantic (3-2) snapped with the Owls 7-2 victory at Mark Light Stadium.
Scoreless through three innings, Hurricanes starter Tom Farmer (0-2) gave up a lead off home run to FAU third baseman Anthony Mongelluzo to open scoring. Farmer proceeded in loading the bases, before the UM defense fought off with a double-play to keep the 1-0 deficit.
The very next inning, FAU left fielder Ryan Withey led off with a home run off Farmer’s first pitch. After FAU’s Gabe Somarriba reached on a double off Farmer, UM brought in reliever Greg Howell. The Owls added three more runs to close out a six-hit four run inning and the 5-0 lead.
Miami responded in the bottom of the fifth with one run when Marcus Nettles scored off a throwing error by FAU catcher J.C. Hugett.
Mongelluzo began the seventh inning with a lead off home run off of UM’s Kiki Bengochea to bring the score back to a five run margin, 6-1. FAU added one more run later in the inning with two outs for the 7-1 lead.
UM senior third baseman Lale Esquivel closed out scoring with a home run to right center in the bottom of the eighth.
FAU’s Carmen Cali (1-1) earned the win for the Owls by pitching eight innings with just two runs off of nine hits. For the game, FAU out-hit UM 14-9.
With the loss, Miami snapped its 14-game win streak over the Owls dating back to the 1993 season. The Hurricanes still lead the all-time series 33-5 starting back in the 1982 season.
Miami travels to Gainesville this weekend for two games with No. 24 Florida at McKethan Stadium at Perry Field, Saturday and Sunday, February 12-13.
