Baseball Shuts Out Albany 14-0
Feb. 25, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team (12-3) equalled the second-best start under Head Coach Jim Morris with a 14-0 shutout victory over the University at Albany (0-1) at Mark Light Stadium.
Morris’ best start since coming to Miami in 1994, was his 1995 team’s 13-2 record after 15 games. The 1996, 1998 and 1999 Hurricanes all went 12-3 in their first 15 games. The back-to-back shutouts for UM, the Hurricanes defeated FIU, 2-0, on Saturday, was a first since UM did-so against Harvard in 1998.
UM starter Tom Farmer (3-0) pitched the first 5.0 innings, allowing four hits, no runs or walks with six strikeouts for his second straight decision. The bullpen went the final 4.0 innings with just two hits, one walk and three strikeouts.
Junior reliever Vince Vazquez made his long-awaited return to action when he entered the game in the seventh inning in relief of Alex Prendes. Vazquez, a preseason All-American entering the 2000 campaign, missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery. In his one inning of relief against Albany, Vazquez retired all three batters faced, two by strikeout. He made a name for himself in UM’s march to the 1999 National Championship as the set-up man to All-American closer Michael Neu. Vazquez had five postseason appearances that year, striking out nine in 7.0 innings pitched.
Miami opened up the scoring in the first, 1-0, when Charlton Jimerson scored from third on a passed ball by Albany catcher Tommy Greene. Jimerson led .off the inning with a bunt single towards third base and moved to second on a Javy Rodriguez single. Both runners then stole third and second, respectively.
The Hurricanes extended their lead, 4-0, in the second. Kevin Howard brought in the first two runs of the inning with a home run deep to centerfield that also scored Haas Pratt. Pratt led off the inning with a double to centerfield. Later in the inning, Jimerson reached first on a fielder’s choice, took second on a throwing error by Albany second baseman Eddie Scott and then to third on a wild pitch from starter Adam Castoldi. Jimerson then came in from third on a Javy Rodriguez grounder.
Miami went up 5-0 in the third when Brown doubled in Mike Rodriguez from second. Mike Rodriguez led off the inning with a walk and stole second.
UM added two more runs in the fifth for the 7-0 lead. Matt Dyrer drove in both runs with a double to centerfield that scored Howard and Jim Burt, who was making his first start in right field. With one out, Howard reachd base with a single to right center and took second on a wild pitch from reliever Mike Burke. Burt then walked prior to Dryer’s plate appearance.
In the seventh, the Hurricanes went up, 14-0, on seven runs, four hits and one error off reliever Ryan Pitt. Burt was the first Hurricane to reach base with a single to left field. He then scored the first run on Dryer’s triple to right center. Jimerson then drew a walk. Mannix followed with a triple to centerfield to score both Dryer and Jimerson. Brad Safchik drew a walk. Mike DiRosa then reached on a fielder’s choice grounder and took second on an errant throw by Albany third baseman Mike Kuebler. The error allowed Mannix to score. Safchik then came home on a wild pitch. Pratt was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and third. Howard closed out the scoring with his triple down the right field line that scored DiRosa and Pratt.
In the game, Miami recorded three triples in the bottom of the seventh to set a new school-record. The previous mark was two, set by one player Manny Crespo, against Illinois on March 6, 1998. Dryer, Kevin Mannix and Howard each recorded their first triples the 2001 season for the new mark.
Miami will return to action next weekend, March 2-4, at the University of Minnesota Hormel Foods Classic at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, MN. The Hurricanes will face host-school Minnesota, San Diego State and Arkansas in the round-robin tournament. Miami last played at the Hormel Foods Classic in 1989 and 1986.
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