Baseball Gets Hit Late in 11-6 Loss To Rutgers
March 11, 2000
Coral Gables, FL – Rutgers put together 11 runs, nine off UM relief pitching, from the fifth inning on as the Scarlet Knights (5-6) come out with a 11-6 victory over Miami (15-8) in the second of a three-game series at Mark Light Stadium. Both teams will meet in a deciding third game on Sunday at 1 p.m. to decide the series, after UM won the opener on Friday, 6-5.
Rutgers put the game out of range, 11-6, in the top of the ninth inning with four runs off three different UM pitchers. Closer Luke DeBold started the inning and allowed three straight hits, two of which were doubles, to bring in one run. Lefty Alex Prendes came in and gave up a walk to third baseman Jake Daubert. Righty Troy Roberson allowed the second run to score on a wild pitch and then two more off a two-RBI double by first baseman Mike O’Brien.
UM reliever Ryan Channell (0-1) gets credited with the loss, after pitching the sixth and early seventh innings. Rutgers’ Ryan Molchan (1-0) gets the win after being the pitcher of record when Rutgers regained the lead for the final time in the seventh. UM defense also allowed four errors in the game.
Miami closed the gap, 7-6, in the eighth when left fielder Kevin Mannix hit a sacrifice fly deep to centerfield to score pinch runner Charlton Jimerson from third. Jimerson came in for pinch hitter Mike DiRosa, who singled to centerfield. He advanced to third when first baseman Danny Matienzo singled to left field.
Rutgers added one more run in the eighth to extend its lead to 7-5 on the Hurricanes. Right fielder Todd Speedy stole home after a throwing error by second baseman Javy Rodriguez to catcher Greg Lovelady. Speedy reached base on a lead off single off DeBold. He advanced to third on a single by designated hitter Mike Popowski.
UM had a chance to at least tie the score in the seventh with bases loaded and one out with shortstop Kevin Howard at the plate. Howard grounded right at Molchan, who threw to RU catcher Ken Ulrich to force UM second baseman Javy Rodriguez out on the play. Howard was also called out on the play after the home plate umpire ruled interference on Rodriguez.
Rutgers jumped back in front of Miami in the seventh, 6-5, when left fielder Joe B. Cirone scored on a fielding error by Matienzo. Second baseman Matt Wolski hit a grounder towards first base, which rolled by Matienzo. On the play, Cirone scored from second.
Matienzo tied the game, 5-5, in the sixth with a two-run homer to right center, also scoring right fielder Manny Crespo. Crespo helped to close the gap with a RBI double earlier in the inning that scored centerfielder Mike Rodriguez from second. Mike Rodriguez reached base with a lead off single to right center, then stole second.
Rutgers took a 5-2 lead in the sixth after scoring two more runs off UM reliever Tom Farmer. RU second baseman Matt Wolski led off the inning with a single to right field. Centerfielder David DeJesus moved Wolski to second on a sac bunt. The next batter, shortstop Darren Fenster, doubled down the left field line to score Wolski. Daubert laid down an infield single towards Farmer, moving Fenster to third. After Daubert stole second, Farmer walked right fielder Todd Speedy to load the bases. Popowski then reached on fielder’s choice towards UM third baseman Chad Strong, scoring Fenster on the play.
Rutgers took its first lead of the game after putting three runs on the scoreboard in the fifth inning. UM starter Brian Walker struck out the first Rutgers batter then walked Daubert. The next batter, Speedy, followed with a double down the left field line to put runners on second and third. Popowski then hit a tricky grounder up the middle past through the UM infield that scored both Rutgers base runners. After O’Brien grounded out, Walker was replaced with Farmer. The first batter Farmer faced, Cirone, doubled down the right field line to score Popowski.
In the fourth, Miami added one more run when second baseman Javy Rodriguez scored from third on a wild pitch by Rutgers starter Bob Brownlie. Javy Rodriguez reached base after being hit by a pitch and stole second. Mike Rodriguez moved him to third on a deep fly out to the centerfielder.
Miami scored the first run of the game in the second inning when centerfielder Mike Rodriguez singled to centerfield to bring in right fielder Kevin Mannix from third. Mannix led off the inning with an infield single to the shortstop, then advanced to second on a sac bunt from second baseman Kris Clute. Catcher Greg Lovelady moved Mannix to third on an infield single toward the first baseman.
