Baseball Clinches Series With 12-2 Rout Over Long Beach State
April 29, 2000
Coral Gables, FL – Freshman third baseman Kevin Howard went 4-5 from the plate with two home runs, a double and seven RBI in leading the University of Miami (30-14-1) to a 12-2 series-clinching win over No. 21 Long Beach State (25-19) at Mark Light Stadium.
UM starter Brian Walker (8-2) earned the win, tying his career-long with 7.0 innings pitched with four hits, two runs, one earned run, three walks and three strikeouts.
In the game, Howard tied school freshman records for home runs in a game (2) and RBI (7). In addition, Miami totaled four home runs in the game by Howard (2), first baseman Danny Matienzo and right fielder Manny Crespo. The Hurricanes also out-hit Long Beach State 13-5.
With its two victories over the 49ers this weekend, 6-3 on Friday night, No. 11 Miami has now won 15 consecutive home three-game series and 43 of the last 44 at the Light. The loss extends Long Beach State’s losing streak to six games, the longest in Head Coach Dave Snow’s 12 seasons at the school (1989-present).
For the second straight evening, Long Beach State started the scoring with one run on two hits and one error in the top of the first off Walker. Right fielder Chuck Lopez reached base on single up the middle and took second on Walker’s errant pick-off throw. The next batter, third baseman Joe Graham, knocked in Lopez for the first run of the game with a single to right field.
Miami answered right back in the bottom of the first taking a 2-1 lead with four hits off of 49ers starter Matt Paz (7-3). Freshman third baseman Kevin Howard followed up centerfielder Mike Rodriguez‘ lead off single up the middle with a two-run home run deep to right field.
In the second, Howard knocked in three more runs for a 5-1 lead with his second home run of the inning deep to right field, also scoring catcher Mike DiRosa and shortstop Javy Rodriguez. DiRosa had earlier reached base on a walk and moved to second on a passed ball. Javy Roriguez also reached base on a walk.
Long Beach State chipped away at UM’s lead with one run in the third as Lopez tagged up from third on an errant pick-off attempt at first base. Lopez led off the inning with a single off a bunt to Walker, stole second and moved to third on Graham’s pop fly to centerfield.
The Hurricanes added two more runs in the fourth for a 7-2 lead off the bat of Matienzo. After Howard reached first on his third hit of the night, Matienzo followed up with a two-run home run to right field.
Following Matienzo’s home run, Long Beach State replaced Paz with lefty reliever Jeffrey Cruz. Paz went 3.0 innings, allowing nine hits, seven runs – all earned, three walks, four strikeouts and two balks.
Miami chased Cruz out of the game the very next inning after scoring three more runs on one hit, two walks and one hit batter. Crespo led of the inning the inning with a walk, followed by another walk to second baseman Kris Clute. DiRosa then moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt. Mike Rodriguez loaded the bases after being hit by a Cruz pitch. Crespo scored the first run of the inning, tagging up after a Cruz wild pitch. Howard, with his fourth hit on the evening, knocked in two more runs with a double to left center. Howard’s two-RBI double, which gave UM a 10-2 lead, was also his team-high 17th on the season.
Cruz left the game following Howard’s double going 1.1 innings with three hits, three earned runs, two walks, two strikeouts, one wild pitch and one hit batter.
Crespo extended UM’s lead to 12-2 in the sixth with a two-run home run to left field, also scoring pinch-runner Charlton Jimerson on the play. Jimerson pinch-ran for left fielder Kevin Mannix, who reached base on a single.
Miami and Long Beach State conclude its three-game series on Sunday, April 30 at 1 p.m. at Mark Light Stadium. For ticket information call 1-800 GO CANES or 305-284-CANES in Dade County. The game can also be heard on the Hurricanes flagship radio station WQAM 560 AM and student radio WVUM 90.5 FM and in Spanish on WACC 830 AM.
