Baseball Rallies Past Northwestern For 4-2 Win
March 22, 2000
Coral Gables, FL – Miami shortstop Kris Clute’s RBI single to right field in the bottom of the eighth inning that scored first baseman Danny Matienzo from third pushed No. 12 Miami (20-8-1) past visiting Northwestern (9-6) en route to 4-2 win at Mark Light Stadium on the UM campus.
Designated hitter Kevin Howard led off the eighth inning with a double to left field. After right fielder Manny Crespo’s strikeout, Matienzo drew a walk off Northwestern starter Zach Schara (3-1). After third baseman Lale Esquivel struck out for out number two in the inning, the Hurricane offense got into gear. UM catcher Mike DiRosa tied the score with an RBI single off Schara and up threw the middle infield to score Howard. NU replaced Schara with reliever Dan Padgett, who gave up a first pitch single to Clute to right field scoring the Matienzo. Shortstop Javy Rodriguez added the fourth run with an infield single to the Wildcat shortstop Jeremy Kurella, allowing DiRosa to score.
Hurricane closer Luke DeBold (3-2) earned the win after shutting out the Wildcats over the final 1.2 innings, striking out three of the five batters he faced.
Crespo started the scoring for the Hurricanes in the third inning with a RBI single down the third base line that scored centerfielder Mike Rodriguez from third. Mike Rodriguez reached base on a double down the right field line and moved to third on a wild pitch by Schara.
The Wildcats bounced back in the fifth to tie the score, 1-1, when Kurella singled to right field scoring first baseman Wesley Robinson from third. Robinson led off the inning with a single off UM starter Troy Roberson, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by Roberson.
Roberson took a no-decision in the game setting a new career-high with seven strikeouts over five innings and allowing four hits, two walks and an unearned run.
Northwestern jumped ahead, 2-1, in the sixth when designated hitter Pat Thompson hit a sacrifice fly to left field allowing right fielder Robert Dainton to score from third. Dainton reached base on a fielding error by Esquivel, advanced to second on UM reliever Greg Howell’s walk to catcher Joe Hieptas and then to third on a passed ball by DiRosa.
Miami returns to action this weekend, March 24-26, in a three-game series against Dartmouth at Mark Light Stadium on the UM campus. For ticket information, please call 1-800 GO CANES or 305-284-CANES in Dade County.
