Baseball Stuns No. 5 Georgia Tech 7-5
May 8, 2000
Coral Gables, FL – CORAL GABLES, FL – Miami (32-16-1) came on strong late with four runs over the final two innings to defeat No. 5 Georgia Tech (38-13), 7-5, and clinch the three-game series at Mark Light Stadium.
The series victory, UM’s 16th consecutive at Mark Light Stadium, was won with rally wins in the final two games of the series. Tech had defeated UM 10-2 in the series-opener on Saturday, but lost to Miami 3-2 and 7-5 in consecutive games.
UM reliever Luke DeBold (4-2) earned the win after pitching 1.2 innings of strong relief. UM starter Kiki Bengochea earned a no-decision after going 4.1 innings with five hits, four runs, two earned, four walks and two strikeouts. Georgia Tech reliever Kevin Cameron (4-2) took the loss after giving up three runs on two hits and two walks in two innings of work. Tech starter Steve Kelly earned a no decision after giving up three runs, two earned, with five walks and one strikeout through five innings of work.
UM regained the lead, 6-5, in the eighth when left fielder Kevin Mannix had his sixth home run of the season, a solo shot off the left field scoreboard on reliever Kevin Cameron. With new reliever Andy Mitchell on the mound, centerfielder Mike Rodriguez drove in another run, 7-5, catcher Mike DiRosa from second, with a single to centerfield. DiRosa had earlier reached base with a single to left field and moved to second a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Kris Clute.
Miami came back in the bottom of the seventh with two runs to tie the score, 5-5, on the bat of first baseman Danny Matienzo. Matienzo took a two-out 1-2 pitch from Cameron deep to left field for a two-run home run that also scored designated hitter Lale Esquivel. Esquivel had earlier reached on a walk.
Georgia Tech started the scoring with one run in the top of the first off two hits. Second baseman Richard Lewis led off the game with a line drive single to centerfield and moved to second on a Bengochea wild pitch. After right fielder Brad Stockton drew a walk, third baseman Mark Teixeira hit into a double play. That play moved Lewis to third, which allowed him to score in the next at bat when catcher Bryan Prince had an RBI single up the middle.
Miami evened up the score, 1-1, in the bottom of the first when centerfielder Mike Rodriguez score from third on shortstop Javy Rodriguez‘ RBI ground out to the shortstop. Mike Rodriguez led off the inning with a walk, moved to second on a failed pick-off attempt by the first baseman and to third on third baseman Kevin Howard’s deep fly out to centerfield.
UM jumped ahead, 2-1, in the second when first baseman Danny Matienzo scored from third off a Kelly wild pitch. Matienzo led off the inning with a single up the middle and moved to second right fielder Manny Crespo’s sacrifice bunt. Matienzo took third and eventually home on successive wild pitches.
The Yellow Jackets tied the game, 2-2, in the third on Teixeira’s sacrifice fly that scored centerfielder Wes Rynders from third. Rynders led off the inning with a single to centerfield and took second on Lewis’ infield single to the shortstop. Rynders moved to third on a fielder’s choice by Stockton.
Miami regained the lead, 3-2, in the fourth when designated hitter Lale Esquivel scored from third on left fielder Kevin Mannix ground out to the shortstop. Esquivel led off the inning with his eighth double of the season, deep to centerfield, and took third on Crespo’s infield hit to the shortstop.
Tech took the lead, 4-3, in the fifth scoring two runs on no hits, two UM errors and a wild pitch. First baseman Jason Perry was the first to score following a throwing error on third baseman Kevin Howard’s errant overthrow to first base on a ground ball from Rynders. The second run was scored off reliever Greg Howell, who threw a wild pitch to allow Rynders to score from third.
The Yellow Jackets extended their lead, 5-3, in the sixth as another UM error led to a run scored. Shortstop Victor Menocal scored from second when Perry hit a ground ball threw the legs of Matienzo to reach on the error. Menocal had earlier reached base with a double.
Miami returns to action next weekend, May 12-14, at Jacksonville University. All three games can be heard on the student voice WVUM 90.5 FM, while Saturday’s game will be broadcasted by flagship WQAM 560 AM. UM will return to Mark Light Stadium for its final three-game series of the regular season, May 19-21, against New York Tech. For ticket information call 1-800 GO CANES or 305-284-CANES in Dade County.
