March 3, 2001
Minneapolis, MN (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami (14-3), ranked as high as fourth nationally by Baseball America, defeated host-school Minnesota (5-6), 10-1, on the second day of the 2001 Hormel Foods Baseball Classic at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
The win for the Hurricanes ties their season-long fifth in a row, while the loss for Minnesota snapped a four-game win streak and equaled its worse loss since a 18-9 loss to Central Michigan in the season-opener. Miami’s 14-3 record also ties the best start for a Hurricane team under Head Coach Jim Morris. UM also went 14-3 in 1995 after 17 games.
Miami was led on the mound by left-handed ace Brian Walker (5-0), who remained undefeated on the 2001 season with 7.0 innings pitched, three hits, one run (earned), two walks and five strikeouts. Relievers Andrew Cohn and Vince Vazquez each retired the side in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively. The three hits surrendered to Minnesota were a season-low for the Hurricanes.
Offensively, UM’s five-run third inning that saw Minnesota starter Ben Birk (1-2) leave after being hit in the face with a hard grounder propelled the Hurricanes to the victory. Following Birk’s departure, the Golden Gophers used three relievers who gave up eight earned runs. Birk took the loss after giving up two runs (one earned).
Hurricane shortstop Javy Rodriguez led the Miami offense against Minnesota by going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with one run scored and three RBI. Kevin Mannix, Kevin Howard and Mike Rodriguez also had multiple-hit efforts for Miami.
The lone threat Minnesota put on Miami in the game came in the fourth when the Golden Gophers had a bases-loaded situation with no outs. Minnesota was able to muster one run in the frame, after Walker forced a sacrifice fly to left followed by a double play to end the inning.
The Hurricanes opened up scoring in the third, 5-0, with five runs on four hits and one error. Matt Dryer led off the inning with a double to right center. Howard then lined a fastball up the middle that ricocheted off Birk, followed by a throwing error on the third baseman Jack Hannahan that allowed Dryer to score. Howard moved to second on the play. Birk had to leave the game with injury to his face. Mike DiRosa drew a walk off reliever Chad Drexler. Marcus Nettles moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. Charlton Jimerson then took first on a strikeout-passed ball, allowing Howard to score and DiRosa to move to third. Jimerson stole second on the next pitch. Javy Rodriguez followed with a line drive single up the middle that scored DiRosa and moved Jimerson to third. Kevin Brown then drew a walk to load the bases. Mannix followed with a two-RBI single to left field that scored Jimerson and Javy Rodriguez. Mike Rodriguez and Dryer each flew out to right field to end the inning.
Javy Rodriguez extended Miami’s lead to 7-0 in the fourth with his two-RBI single up the middle off reliever Jason Shupe that scored Howard and Nettles. Howard had led off the inning with a double down the right field line. After a DiRosa ground out, Nettles drew a walk. Jimerson moved both runners over with a sacrifice grounder to the pitcher prior to Javy Rodriguez’ at bat.
Minnesota edged into Miami’s lead in the fourth, 7-1, with one run off a bases loaded situation and no outs. Hannahan led off the inning by getting hit by a Walker pitch, then took second on Josh Holthaus’ single to left field and to third on a walk to Jason Kennedy. Hannahan then came home on Scott Welch’s sacrifice fly to left field. Rob Larue ended the inning for Minnesota by grounding into a double play.
The Hurricanes answered with two runs off one hit and an error in the fifth for the 9-1 lead. Mannix drew a walk to lead off the inning. Mike Rodriguez then reached first on a bunt single to the pitcher, who allowed both runners to advance a base with an errant throw. Dryer then grounded out to the second baseman, allowing Mannix to score from third. Howard followed with a sacrifice fly to centerfield that allowed Mike Rodriguez to score.
UM extended its lead 10-1 in the eighth on pinch-hitter Jim Burt double deep off the left field wall that scored Greg Lovelady from second. Lovelady led off the inning by reaching base on a fielding error by the shortstop and moved to second on the play.
With the victory over the Golden Gophers, Miami has earned at least a share of the Classic championship. The Hurricanes defeated San Diego State on the first day, while Minnesota handed Arkansas a loss leaving Miami as the only undefeated team heading into the final day of play.
Miami conclude the Hormel Foods Baseball Classic with 21st-ranked Arkansas on Sunday, March 4 at Noon. The game can be heard over the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM, as well as on the Internet at hurricanesports.com.
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.