Miami Baseball Bows Out At Hands Of Florida State
June 4, 2000
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Behind the solid pitching of Mike Ziegler, theFlorida State Seminoles defeated the defending national champion MiamiHurricanes, 6-1, on Sunday afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium, for the rightto advance to the 2000 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. TheSeminoles, who improved to 51-17, will be making their 18th CWS appearanceand 12th under Head Coach Mike Martin. Miami finished the season at 41-19-1.
“This is just a group of winners,” FSU’s Martin said. “Playing infront of our fans was a tremendous lift. This is what it’s all about –seeing our young men have this moment. This is the most exciting moment ofmy career — to watch these young men celebrate a victory and accomplish agoal.”Miami’s Mike Rodriguez and Kevin Howard got on board with back-to-backsingles to start off the game. Rodriguez, who stole second, went to thirdon Howard’s base hit and went on to score on a sacrifice fly to left by JavyRodriguez and the ‘Canes took a 1-0 advantage.
FSU tied the game in the second inning. With one out, Karl Jernigandoubled down the left field line and went to third on a sharply hit singleto second base by Pichi Balet. Mike Futrell’s sacrifice fly to left scoredJernigan.
The Seminoles took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning withtwo runs off of two hits and would not trail again. With one out, ChrisSmith, who leads the Tribe with 14 home runs, extended his hitting streak to25 games with a solo home run over the right field fence. John-Ford Griffinfollowed with a walk and scored on an RBI triple to center field by MarshallMcDougall.Miami pitcher Kiki Bengochea got himself into a bind in the fourth. Baletled off the inning with a single to center field and Futrell reached base ona hit by pitch. Brett Groves moved the runners over with a sacrifice andreached safely on an error by Miami first basemen Kevin Brown. With thebases loaded and no outs, Blair McCaleb drove in Balet with a single toshort left, increasing the Seminole lead to 4-1. With the bases loaded andthe top of the order coming to bat, the Hurricanes brought in Alex Prendesto pitch, who got out of the jam with a fly out and double play.
McDougall notched his 13th home run of the year, and secondextra-base hit of the game, with a blast to left field to give the Seminolesa 5-1 lead after five innings.
McCaleb gave the Seminoles an insurance run in the bottom of theeighth. With two out, Groves drew a walk and stole second. McCaleb drovein Groves with a double to center field.
“(Mike) Ziegler threw a great game, just great pitching,” Miami HeadCoach Jim Morris said. “They (the Seminoles) played outstanding defense.They swung the bat and got the hits when they counted and that’s what ittakes to win.”
Ziegler, who improved to 9-4, gave up one run off of two hits in thefirst inning, but settled down to allow just two more Hurricane hits untilthe eighth inning when Miami had three hits but stranded two runners. Hestruck out nine and walked no one and improved to 9-4. McCaleb led theTribe offensively, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. McDougall also drove in tworuns.
Bengochea fell to 5-5 with the loss. Manny Crespo led the way withtwo of the Hurricanes’ nine hits, all of which were singles.
FSU’s first game opponent in Omaha will be Southern Cal.
123 456 789 - R H EMIAMI 100 000 000 - 1 9 1FLORIDA STATE 012 110 01x - 6 10 0
WP: Mike Ziegler (9-4), LP: Kiki Bengochea (5-5)
2B – FSU (2) – Karl Jernigan, Blair McCaleb
3B – FSU (1) – Marshall McDougall
HR – FSU (2) – Chris Smith, Marshall McDougall
