Baseball Holds Off Dartmouth 10-8
March 25, 2000
Coral Gables, FL – The University of Miami baseball team (21-9-1), ranked 12th in the Baseball Weekly/ESPN Coaches’ poll, evened up its series with Dartmouth (7-7) with a 10-8 win at Mark Light Stadium on the UM campus.
The Hurricanes jumped out to 9-1 lead going into the sixth, but the Big Green rallied with eight runs over the final four innings to pull within two. Senior designated hitter Mark Walker made his return to the starting line-up with a punch, going 3-3 from the plate with three RBI, a double, one run scored and a walk. Walker’s last start came against C.W. Post on March 3 and missed nearly three weeks of action due to a sublexation of his left shoulder.
Miami starter Brian Walker, who had a no-hitter through five innings pitched, pitched six total innings with three hits, four runs, three earned runs, one walk and eight strikeouts. Dartmouth’s Jim Kelly lasted 4.2 innings with nine hits allowed, nine runs, four earned, three walks and two strikeouts. UM closer Luke DeBold earned his fifth save of the season closing out the ninth.
Dartmouth took the first lead of the game as it scored one run in the top of the second. Third baseman Brian Nickerson led off the inning by reaching base on a throwing error by UM shortstop Javy Rodriguez, also allowing him to advance to second on the play. After stealing third, Nickerson eventually scored on a Walker wild pitch.
In the bottom of the second, the Hurricanes regained the lead for good as they scored two runs on two hits and a Dartmouth error. Walker knocked in both Hurricane runs with a double down the right field line to score catcher Mike DiRosa and Javy Rodriguez. DiRosa led off the inning by reaching base on a fielding error by Dartmouth shortstop Matthew Klentak. The next batter, Javy Rodriguez, moved DiRosa to second with a single to centerfield. Second baseman Kris Clute advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt in the next at bat prior to Walker’s two-RBI double.
The Hurricanes added one more run in the fourth, as Walker hit his third RBI of the game knocking in Clute from second with a single to left field. Clute reached base earlier with a double.
Miami had a prolific sixth inning, scoring six runs on three hits and two Dartmouth errors. Right fielder Manny Crespo knocked in the first run of the inning with a double down the left field line, scoring third baseman Kevin Howard all the way from first. Howard had led off the inning with a walk. First baseman Danny Matienzo then reached base on a fielding error by Dartmouth first baseman Mike Mileusnic, moving Crespo to third on the play. DiRosa drove in Crespo in the next at bat with a single to left field, moving Matienzo to second on the play. Javy Rodriguez then loaded the bases as he reached base on a fielding error by Nickerson. Clute tallied UM’s second sacrifice of the inning, driving in Matienzo with a deep fly out to centerfield. After Walker walked, centerfielder Charlton Jimerson hit a school-record third sacrifice in the inning to score DiRosa. Left fielder Mike Rodriguez added the final two runs of the inning with a two-RBI triple to right center, scoring Walker and Javy Rodriguez.
The Big Green got closer with three runs in the sixth. Dartmouth right fielder Dan Becker led off the sixth inning with a triple. The next batter, left fielder Jason DaCosta, knocked Becker in with an infield single to Klute. Centerfielder James Little closed out the three-run inning with a two-run home run to left field.
UM added one run in the bottom of the inning as Javy Rodriguez brought in Matienzo from third with a fielder’s choice. Matienzo reached base with a single to right field and moved to third on a DiRosa single.
With reliever Ryan Channell on the mound in the seventh, Dartmouth closed the gap even further, 10-6, with a two-run home run by Klentak. The home run to left field also scored designated hitter Joe Rockers, who led off the inning with a walk.
The Big Green got within three, 10-7, in the eighth with one run on a Nickerson infield single to Klute that allowed catcher Michael Levy to score. Levy had struck out swinging, but a passed ball by DiRosa on the play allowed him to reach base.
Miami and Dartmouth meet in the final game of the series on Sunday at 1 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.
