Baseball Hammers Jacksonville 14-6
May 13, 2000
Jacksonville, FL – The University of Miami (34-16-1), ranked 13th by all three collegiate baseball polls, went on a hitting brigade against Jacksonville (33-22)as the Hurricanes defeated the Dolphins 14-6 at Alexander Brest Field on the JU campus.
Miami totaled 16 hits in the game, the most since a 22-hit game at N.C. State on April 22. Offensively, UM was led by shortstop Javy Rodriguez and designated hitter Danny Matienzo, who each had four hits. First baseman Lale Esquivel and Matienzo each had three RBI.
UM starter Brian Walker (9-2) pitched five innings for the win, but threw 115 pitches. He allowed seven hits, four earned runs, four walks, seven strikeouts and three wild pitches for his co-team high ninth win. UM ace David Gil also earned his ninth win in UM’s 4-2 win in game No. 1 on Friday.
The win also clinches the three-game series for the Hurricanes, the fifth consecutive on the 2000 season. Additionally, UM has won 10 of 11 three-game series on the season.
The Hurricanes started strong in the first inning totaling four runs on three hits, while chasing Jacksonville starting pitcher Josh Nichols (4-5) out of the game after walking the first three batters faced to load the bases. First baseman and clean-up batter Lale Esquivel started the scoring with a two-RBI single up the middle that scored centerfielder Mike Rodriguez and third baseman Kevin Howard. The next batter, designated hitter Danny Matienzo, then singled to left center to score shortstop Javy Rodriguez from third. Right fielder Kevin Mannix followed up with a single to left field that scored Esquivel from third.
Jacksonville answered in the bottom of the first with one run on two hits, following centerfielder Troy Veleber’s sacrifice fly to left field that scored right fielder John Vollstedt from third. Vollstedt led off the game with a double down the left field line and moved to third on a Walker wild pitch.
UM did not let up with its scoring, as it added three runs on three hits in the second inning for a 7-1 lead. Mike Rodriguez started the inning with a walk, followed by a single to right field from Howard. The next batter, Javy Rodriguez, then scored Mike Rodriguez from second with a RBI single to left field. Both Howard and Javy Rodriguez each moved over a base following a wild pitch from JU pitcher Ryan Courson. After another walk to Esquivel, Matienzo brought in Howard with a single deep to left field. Javy Rodriguez also came in to score on that play following a fielding error from the JU left fielder.
The Dolphins came back with one run in the third to narrow the UM lead to 7-2. JU scored the run off a wild pitch by Walker that allowed Vollstedt to come in from third. Vollstedt led off the inning with a bunt single down the third base line, moved to second on a walk to Veleber and stole third during catcher Chad Oliva’s strikeout.
UM scored two more runs on three hits off Courson in the fourth inning for a 9-2 lead. Javy Rodriguez was the first UM batter to reach base with a double down the right field line. Esquivel then drove in Javy Rodriguez with a single to left field. Esquivel then came in to score when Matienzo doubled down the left field line.
Miami extended its lead to 10-2 in the fifth on Javy Rodriguez‘ single to centerfield that scored second baseman Kris Clute from second. Clute led off the inning with a single to right center and stole second.
Jacksonville chipped away at UM’s lead with two runs on three hits off Walker in the fifth to narrow the margin to 10-4. Designated hitter Bret Catto drove in two runs with a single to left field right that fell just in front of a diving Mike Rodriguez. The hit scored Oliva and third baseman Josh Hurrell, who each reached base with singles to centerfield.
With UM reliever Luke DeBold on the mound for the sixth inning, JU was able to squeeze in one more run to narrow the Hurricanes lead to 10-5. Howard committed a throwing error on Veleber’s hard single down the third base line, allowing Vollstedt to score. Vollstedt had led off the inning with a bloop single to right field.
UM added an insurance run to start the seventh inning on left fielder Charlton Jimerson’s solo home run deep to centerfield off JU reliever Cody Collins. Following Jimerson’s second home run of the season, Collins was removed for reliever Jason Ryals. After a walk to Mike Rodriguez, Ryals allowed a two-run home run to Howard, deep to left field, to extend UM’s lead to 13-5.
Mike Rodriguez helped UM to a 14-5 lead with a RBI single up the middle that scored catcher Greg Lovelady from third. Lovelady, in the game for starter Mike DiRosa, led off the inning with a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on left fielder Marcus Nettles ground out.
Jacksonville took advantage of new UM reliever Ryan Channell in the eighth inning as Vollstedt hit a solo home run down the left field line to narrow the UM lead to 14-6.
Miami and Jacksonville conclude its three-game series on Sunday, May 13 at 1 p.m. at Alexander Brest Field on the JU campus. The game can be heard over the radio on the student voice WVUM 90.5 FM. Additionally, the game can be heard via the internet, log on to www.hurricanesports.com.
