Baseball Suffers 6-5 Setback To Dartmouth
March 24, 2000
Coral Gables, FL – The University of Miami (20-9-1) allowed three unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning to fall to Dartmouth (7-6) at Mark Light Stadium on the UM campus. The UM loss also ended senior starter David Gil’s (4-1) winning streak at 17 games, dating back to the 1998 season, one shy of the school-record held by Jerry Brust (1974-75).
Dartmouth starter John Velosky (2-1) earned the win with 7.0 innings pitched with nine hits, five runs, four earned runs, six walks and four strikeouts. Conor Brooks received the save. Gil allowed eight hits, six runs, three earned runs, three walks and six strikeouts.
Dartmouth jumped out first with one run in the second inning when left fielder Daniel Becker singled to right field, scoring third baseman Brian Nickerson from the second on the play. Nickerson led off the inning with a walk, advanced to second on shortstop Matthew Klentak’s ground out to Gil.
Miami tied the score, 1-1, in the bottom of the inning when second baseman Javy Rodriguez scored third baseman Lale Esquivel from third on a ground out to Klentak. Esquivel led off the inning with a walk, moved to second on a walk to catcher Mike DiRosa and third on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Kris Clute.
An inning later, the Big Green took a 3-1 lead after scoring two runs on three hits. First baseman Mike Mileusnic knocked in both runs on a single to centerfied that scored second baseman Chris Miranda and catcher Michael Levy. Mirand reached base with a lead off infield single to Klute. Levy followed up with a single down the left field line, moving Miranda to third. Levy advanced to second on a passed ball by DiRosa.
Miami answered back with one run in the bottom of the third to narrow the Dartmouth lead to 3-2. Rightfielder Manny Crespo doubled to right center to score designated hitter Kevin Howard from first on the play. Howard reached base with an infield single towards Mileusnic.
Dartmouth extended its lead to 6-2 in the sixth, when it scored three unearned runs off two hits and two errors. Klentak scored the first run when he scored from third on a fielding error by Esquivel. Klentak earlier reached base on a bunt. The next batter, Miranda, brought in the next run on a fielder’s choice when right fielder Yale Dieckmann advanced to third and scored on a throwing error by Klute. The same play also allowed Mileusnic to score.
Miami chipped away with one more run in the sixth when DiRosa scored on a throwing error by Miranda. DiRosa reached base on a walk and advanced to third on a single by Javy Rodriguez.
The Hurricanes scored two more runs in the seventh to narrow the gap to 6-5. Esquivel drove in the first run on a single to left center, scoring Howard from third. Howard reached base with a lead off single to centerfield, advanced to second on Crespo’s single to left field and to third on first baseman Danny Matienzo’s sacrife fly to right field. DiRosa brought in the fifth run on a sacrifice fly to right center, allowing Crespo to score from third.
Miami and Dartmouth meet in the second game of the series on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Mark Light Stadium on the UM campus. For further ticket information, please call 1-800 GO CANES or 305-284-CANES in Dade County.
