Baseball Falls 17-10 To FIU
Feb. 21, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team (9-3) fell to visiting Florida International (9-3), 17-10, in front of 1,851 fans at Mark Light Stadium. The FIU victory evens the season series with the Hurricanes, after a 4-3 UM win at University Park on February 7.
The seven-run margin of victory was the largest by FIU over UM, as well as giving up the most runs to the Golden Panthers (17) since the two teams started playing in 1973. The previous high margin of victory was five, accomplished twice. The most runs FIU had previously scored over the Hurricanes was 12, accomplished four times.
FIU opened up scoring in the first, 1-0, with Brendan Hines’ double to right field of UM starter Chris Sheffield that scored Matt Huntingford from third. Huntingford reached base with a single to left field and moved to third on Daniel Bustamente’s single up the middle.
Miami came back in the bottom of the first, 3-1, with three runs off three hits on FIU starter William Collazo and an error from shortstop Mickey Torello. Javy Rodriguez led off the scoring when he stole home as Kevin Mannix was trying to steal second. Javy Rodriguez reached base with an infield single to third base and stole second. Mannix then singled to left field, moving Javy Rodriguez to third. Kevin Brown drew a walk and then scored on Mike Rodriguez‘ double to left field. Mike Rodriguez then scored on Torello’s errant throw to first base on a Haas Pratt infield grounder.
FIU came back to take the lead, 4-3, in the second with three unearned runs all with two outs showing. Tommy Duenas led off the inning with a foul pop out, followed by a walk to Torello. Todd Sherbinsky then popped up a bunt attempt for the second out of the inning. Barry Paulk then reached base on a fielding error from Javy Rodriguez that would have been the third out. The next batter, Huntingford, then was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Bustamente drove in the first two runs with a single to right field scoring Torello and Paulk. Hines then drew a walk to reload the bases. A Sheffield wild pitch struck Gus Alfonso out swinging, but allowed Alfonso to take first and Huntingford to score. Mike Quintana struck out looking to end the inning.
Miami regained the lead, 5-4, with two runs in the bottom of the second. Mike DiRosa led off the frame with a walk, followed by Kris Clute getting hit with a Collazo pitch. Charlton Jimerson knocked in the tying run, DiRosa from second, with a single to centerfield. A Javy Rodriguez sacrifice fly deep to centerfield allowed Clute to score from third for the go-ahead run.
FIU recaptured the lead, 6-5, in the third with Sherbinsky’s home run to left field that also scored Duenas. Duenas led off the inning with a walk. Sheffield left the game following the home run and was replaced with reliever Jeff Reboin. He lasted 2.1 innings with five hits, six runs (three earned), three walks, four strikeouts, one wild pitch and one hit batter. UM forced a double-play to end the inning after consecutive fielding errors by Clute to allow Paulk and Huntingford to reach base.
Miami tied the game, 6-6, in the bottom of the third when Mike Rodriguez singled to centerfield to score Brown from second. Brown led off the inning with a double off the left center wall.
FIU once again took the lead, 9-6, in the fourth off a Duenas three-run home run to left field off Reboin. The home run also scored Hines and Alfonso. Hines reached base on a walk, followed by a double to right center from Alfonso. Reboin was removed after the home run and replaced with reliever Danny Touchet. Reboin went one inning with two hits, three runs (all earned) and two walks. Touchet forced a fly out to Torello, followed by a strikeout to Sherbinsky to end the inning.
Miami would then narrow FIU’s lead, 9-7, after reliever Paul Zervas walked in pinch-runner Matt Dryer from third. After giving up a walk to Clute and a bunt single to Jimerson in the bottom of the fourth, Collazo was removed for Zervas. Clute had led off the inning with a walk, but was replaced with Dyer after suffering from flu symptons. Jimerson and Javy Rodriguez each had successful bunt singles to move Dryer to third. Zervas then walked Brown to bring Dryer in. Collazo, who earned a no-decision in the appearance, went 3.0 innings with seven hits, seven runs (six earned), three walks, three strikeouts, one wild pitch and one hit batter. Zervas would strike out Mike Rodriguez and force a fly out to Haas Pratt to end the inning.
FIU extended its lead, 10-7, in the sixth off a Paulk fielder’s choice grounder that allowed Quintana to score from third. Quintana led off the inning with a single to right field and stole second. Duenas then grounded out to second base, allowing Quintana to move to third. Torello walked and stole second. Sherbinsky then walked to load the bases. Touchet was then replaced with Andrew Cohn on the mound. Paulk would then hit a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop to bring Quintana in. Cohn would strikeout out Huntingford and Bustamente to end the inning. Touchet lasted 2.0 innings with three hits, one earned run, two walks, two strikeouts and a hit batter.
Mike Rodriguez narrowed the FIU lead, 10-8, in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to right field off Zervas.
The Golden Panthers added six more runs to its lead, 16-8, in the eighth. Duenas led off the inning with a single to shortstop, then took second on a balk from reliever George Huguet. Torello then doubled down the left field line to score Duenas. Torello then took third on a pass ball from Greg Lovelady. Todd Sherbinsky drew a walk from Huguet prior to be replaced by Alex Prendes. Paulk then drew a walk. Huntingford loaded the bases when he reached base on a fielder’s choice. Torello scored on a throwing error by Dryer at the plate. Bustamente struck out swinging for the first out of the inning. Pinch-hitter Edgar Nunez hit a double to right center to score Sherbinsky and Paulk. Alfonso was hit by a pitch. Quintana struck out swinging for the second out of the inning just before Prendes was replaced with Luke DeBold. Duenas, in his second plate appearance of the inning, singled to right center to score Huntingford and Nunez.
FIU added one more run in the top of the ninth, while UM added two for the final 17-10 decision.
Miami and FIU will meet for two more games on Friday and Saturday, February 23-24, at the Homestead Sports Complex as part of the opening weekend festivities for the 2001 Homestead Challenge. Both games are slated to start at 7 p.m. Fox Sports Net Florida will televise the Friday contest. UM’s Spanish Broadcast Network on WACC 830 AM Radio Paz will also carry the Friday game, as well. Both Friday and Saturday games can also be heard on WVUM and at hurricanesports.com.
Following the two games vs. FIU at the Homestead Sports Complex, Miami will close out the weekend with the University of Albany on Sunday, February 25 at 1 p.m. at Mark Light Stadium. The Albany game can be heard over radio on UM’s flagship station Sports Radio 560 WQAM, in Spanish on WACC 830 AM Radio Paz and on WVUM 90.5 FM.
Call 1-800-GO-CANES for season and individual game ticket information. To join the excitement, log on to hurricanesports.com and become a member of Hurricane Watch, the on-line loyalty program that allows you to purchase tickets on-line, transfer tickets to friends via email and earn Hurricane rewards for each game you attend at the Light.
