Baseball Falls To Rutgers 6-4 In 10 Innings
March 9, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – Despite scoring two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning, the University of Miami baseball team (16-4) were not able to overcome Rutgers four-run top half of the 10th in a 6-4 extra-inning loss to the Scarlet Knights (8-2) Friday night at Mark Light Stadium. The loss, in front of 2,603 fans, snapped the #3 Hurricanes seven-game win streak.
With closer Vince Vazquez (1-1) on the mound, Rutgers began its rally with a one-out double to left field by Val Majewski to start the 10th inning. Billy McCarthy then reached on an intentional walk. Alberto Vasquez put the Scarlet Knights ahead, 3-2, with his double to right field that scored Majewski and moving McCarthy to third. A second intentional walk was then issued to Todd Speedy to load the bases before Ryan Lillis scored McCarthy and Vasquez on his single to right. Jeff Reboin then came in to replace Vasquez on the mound, followed by a Jamell Rosario sacrifice fly that scored Speedy to give the Scarlet Knights a 6-2 lead. Vazquez took the loss after allowing four earned runs on three hits and two intentional walks.
The Hurricanes made the game interesting in the bottom half of the 10th, when Kris Clute hit a one-out single to centerfield off RU reliever Ryan Molchan (1-0). Mike DiRosa then drew a walk, followed by pinch-hitter Haas Pratt’s single up the middle to load the bases. Clute then scored on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Matt Dryer to make the score 6-3, also allowing DiRosa to third. Miami drew within 6-4 when DiRosa scored on a single by Kevin Mannix. But Rutgers hurler Tom Wheeler closed out the game by getting Kevin Brown to fly out to center field for his first save.
Rutgers began the scoring in the top of the first with consecutive doubles by Majewski and McCarthey for the early 1-0 lead.
The Scarlet Knights extended the score, 2-0, in the fourth when Todd Speedy hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score McCarthy from third. McCarthy reached base with a line drive single to left field and moved to third off a single from Mike Popowski to right field. With four hits allowed in the inning, UM starter Brian Walker got the final out with the bases loaded.
Miami came back in the fourth, 2-1, with one run and two hits with one runner left on base. Brown scored Javy Rodriguez from third with a sacrifice fly RBI to left field. Rodriguez reached base with a single to left field and moved to second on a single to centerfield by Mannix. Both runners then pulled off the double steal.
The Hurricanes tied the score, 2-2, in the fifth when Clute scored from third on DiRosa’s RBI ground out to second base. Clute reached base with a double to right center and took third on a throwing error by the catcher.
In the sixth, with Popowski standing on third after he walked, took second on a passed ball by DiRosa and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Speedy, Walker was replaced with reliever Luke DeBold. Walker went 5.1 innings with eight hits, two runs (both earned), two walks and one strikeout. DeBold retired the final two Rutgers batters to end the threat.
DeBold, Alex Prendes and George Huguet combined to retire three of the four batters faced in the seventh. Huguet would then pitch scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth.
In the eighth, after 118 pitches and a single by Danny Matienzo, Gallagher was replaced with Tom Crohan. Gallagher went 7.1 with four hits, two runs (one earned), two walks and six strikeouts.
Miami and Rutgers will continue the three game series on Saturday, March 10 at 7 p.m. at Mark Light Stadium. The series will conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games will be broadcast over the radio on the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM, as well as over the Internet at hurricanesports.com. Saturday’s game will also be on UM’s Spanish Broadcasting Network on WACC 830 AM Radio Paz.
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.
