Baseball Defeats Rutgers 5-3 To Clinch Weekend Series
March 12, 2000
Coral Gables, FL – Right fielder Manny Crespo’s sacrifice fly in the sixth inning that drove in second baseman Javy Rodriguez prove to be the deciding margin as the 10th-ranked Hurricanes (16-8) came away with the series clinching 5-3 win over Rutgers (5-7) at Mark Light Stadium.
The series clinching win marks the Hurricanes 16th consecutive three-game series won and 33 of the last 34. Additionally, UM has won 39 of the last 40 three-game series at Mark Light Stadium. Miami won 6-5 on Friday, but lost 11-6 on Saturday.
UM starter Kiki Bengochea (3-1) is credited with the victory after tying a career-high with seven innings pitched. He allowed six hits, two earned runs, three walks with two strikeouts. UM reliever Greg Howell earned his first save as a Hurricane striking out two and giving up one hit over the final two innings. Rutgers reliever Barry Walsh (1-1) earns the loss.
Miami regained the lead, 4-3, in the sixth with to runs off of Walsh. Jimerson scored the first run as he tagged up from third on a wild pitch. He reached base with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Walsh. Javy Rodriguez scored the go-ahead run from third on a sacrifice fly to left field by Crespo. Javy Rodriguez reached base on a fielder’s choice, advanced to second when the infield was concentrating on Jimerson at third and moved to third on Walsh’ wild pitch. During the inning, both the Rutgers head coach Fred Hill and pitching coach Tom Baxter were ejected for arguing with third base umpire John Kilianski.
Miami extended the lead to 5-3 in the seventh when designated hitter Marcus Nettles sacrifice flied to centerfield to bring shortstop Kris Clute home from third. Clute reached base earlier with an infield single to the shortstop, stole second and advanced to third on catcher Mike DiRosa’s single to right field.
Miami opened the game with one run in the first inning on first baseman Danny Matienzo’s RBI single to left that scored Javy Rodriguez from third. Rodriguez reached base on a walk and advanced third on a double to centerfield by Crespo.
In the second, Mike Rodriguez brought in the Hurricanes second run with a RBI double to left center that scored centerfielder Charlton Jimerson. Jimerson reached base on a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Rutgers narrowed the lead, 2-1, in the third after third baseman Jake Daubert singled in designated hitter Brian Ciemniecki from second. Ciemniecki had earlier reached base on a walk and stole second.
In the third, Rutgers took the lead, 3-2, with two runs off Bengochea. First baseman Mike O’Brien led off the scoring with a game tying solo home run to left field. Second baseman Matt Wolski scored the next run as he tagged up from third off a fielding error by UM third baseman Kevin Mannix on a ground ball by centerfielder David DeJesus. Wolski had reached base with a single to right field, following O’Brien’s home run. The next batter, left fielder Leon Shade, singled to left field moving Wolski to second. Ciemniecki then reached on a fielder’s choice to place Wolski at third.
The Hurricanes were playing the game without three of their main starters, as first baseman Kevin Brown, third baseman Lale Esquivel and shortstop Kevin Howard all sat out the game with injuries. The missing infield trio is batting .390 combined and is responsible for a third off all of the Hurricanes offense, including 41 percent of the home runs.
Miami returns to action on Wednesday, March 15, against Iona at 7 p.m. at Mark Light Stadium.
