Baseball Shuts Out Harvard 6-0
March 30, 2000
Coral Gables, FL – Hurricane ace RHP David Gil (5-1) pitched a one-hitter through six innings with eight strikeouts in leading No. 13 Miami (24-9-1) to 6-0 shutout over Ivy League Harvard (5-10) at Mark Light Stadium.
Reliever Greg Howell earned his second save of the season as he closed out the final three innings for the Hurricanes in keeping the shutout. Howell allowed four hits, no walks and four strikeouts. Harvard used six pitchers in its final game of a 12-game spring break trip to Florida. All but two Crimson pitchers gave up runs on the evening.
Miami opened up scoring in the fourth inning with three runs on three hits and two Harvard errors. Harvard opened the inning with a new pitcher after replacing starter Mike Dryden with reliever Derek Lennon (0-3). The Hurricanes then tallied their first hit of the game when third baseman Kevin Howard led off the inning with a single to left field. Dryden had held the Hurricanes hitless over the first three innings with one walk and three strikeouts.
In the fourth, UM scored its first run when right fielder Manny Crespo knocked in the Howard from first with a double to left center. UM scored its next run when second baseman Kris Clute hit a sacrifice fly to left field, allowing Crespo to score from third. Miami got its third run of the inning when catcher Mike DiRosa hit a deep shot to centerfield, which Harvard’s Scott Carmack misplayed, allowing first baseman Danny Matienzo to score from second. Matienzo had reached base earlier with a single to right field and moved to second on a fielding error by Harvard shortstop Mark Mager.
The Hurricanes tacked in one more run in the sixth to bring the lead to 4-0 when designated hitter Lale Esquivel singled in Matienzo from third. Matienzo reached base with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice fly by centerfielder Mark Walker.
In the seventh, UM extended its lead to 5-0, when left fielder Mike Rodriguez doubled in shortstop Javy Rodriguez with a line drive to right field. Javy Rodriguez reached base with a walk.
Miami closed out scoring in the eighth with another run when Esquivel drove in Matienzo with a line out to centerfield.
Miami welcomes the Florida Marlins to Mark Light Stadium on Saturday, April 1 at 7 p.m. for an exhibition game in the Marlins final tune-up before their 2000 Major League season-opener. For ticket information call 1-800 GO CANES or 305-284 CANES in Dade County. Tickets for all Miami baseball games can be purchased on gameday at Mark Light Stadium one hour before the game or in advance at the UM ticket box office in the Hecht Athletic Center at 5821 San Amaro Drive. Information on all UM athletic events can be found at www.hurricanesports.com, the official site of Hurricane athletics.
