Errors Plague Hurricanes In 6-4 Loss To Long Beach State
April 30, 2000
Coral Gables, FL – Miami recorded a team-season high seven errors as Long Beach State (26-19) avoided the three-game sweep with a 6-4 victory over Miami (30-15-1) at Mark Light Stadium.
Long Beach State had the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh when designated hitter Chris Wright hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score second baseman A.J. LaBarbera from third off UM reliever Ryan Channell. LaBarbera had led off the inning with a walk and moved to bases on consecutive bunts by shortstop Bobby Crosby and right fielder Chuck Lopez. UM starter Kiki Bengochea (4-3) took the loss after allowing the first two batters to reach base.
The 49ers added an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Lopez hit into a double play, but not before LaBarbera scored from third.
Miami started the scoring early putting two runs on in the first inning off three hits on Long Beach State starter Jason Berni (4-2). First baseman Danny Matienzo knocked in the first run, centerfielder Mike Rodriguez from third, with a single to left center. Designated hitter Lale Esquivel brought in the second run, third baseman Kevin Howard from third, with a double down the left field line. Mike Rodriguez led off the inning with a walk, stole second and moved to third on Howard’s infield single to the shortstop. Howard had moved to third on Matienzo’s single.
Long Beach State answered back with one run in the second off two hits and one error. Left fielder Jeff Jones reached base on a bunt single and took second on Bengochea’s errant throw. Jones moved to third on catcher Bryan Kennedy ground out to second baseman Kris Clute. Jones scored, unearned, on third baseman Joe Graham’s ground out to Howard.
Howard knocked in one more run in the bottom of the second for a 3-1 lead, catcher Mike DiRosa from third, with a double deep to right field. DiRosa had reached base earlier on a walk and moved to third on Mike Rodriguez‘ single to right field. The double by Howard, his team leading 18th on the season, tied former Hurricane standout Pat Burrell’s freshman record set in 1996.
Long Beach State jumped ahead of the Hurricanes, 4-3, in the top of the third totaling three runs on two hits off Bengochea. Centerfielder Robert Womack was the first to score on Lopez’ sacrifice fly to left field. Womack led off the inning with a walk, took second on LaBarbera’s ground out to the pitcher and moved to third on Crosby’s bunt towards third base. Wright then drew a walk, followed by Jones reaching base on a hit by pitch to load the bases. Kennedy then knocked in two runs with a single to right field, scoring Crosby and Wright.
Esquivel did not let Long Beach State’s lead last long as he led off the bottom of the third inning with a team-high 16th home run of the season, off Berni, deep to left field to tie the score 4-4.
Howard tied the school-record for consecutive times reaching base with 13 in the fourth inning when he drew a walk off Berni. The record was set by former standout Mike Fiore in 1985. Later in the seventh, Howard broke the record with a single to left field for his 14th consecutive time reaching base.
Miami returns to action next weekend against ACC power Georgia Tech at Mark Light Stadium for a three-game series beginning Saturday, May 6. For ticket information call 1-800 GO CANES or 305-284 CANES in Dade County. For information on all of UM athletics, check the official website at www.hurricanesports.com.
