Baseball Defeats Cornell 2-1 In 10 Innings

Baseball Defeats Cornell 2-1 In 10 Innings

March 21, 2001

Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team (22-6), ranked as high as sixth by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball, went 10 innings to defeat Cornell (2-4), 2-1, in front of 1,392 fans at Mark Light Stadium.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th, pinch-hitter Jim Burt came through with a walk-off single to right field to score Javy Rodriguez from third base. Rodriguez had led off the inning with a bunt single towards third base and stole second. Cornell then intentionally walked Danny Matienzo. Haas Pratt successfully moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt. The Big Red loaded the bases just prior to Burt’s at bat with an intentional walk to Kevin Howard.

UM reliever Andrew Cohn (1-0) earned his first collegiate win after finishing off the final batter in the top of the 10th. Hurricane starter Chris Sheffield arguably had one of the best outings by a UM starter this season going a career-high 7.0 innings allowing two hits, one earned run, a team-season-high 11 strikeouts and three walks. He threw 108 pitches and the two hits allowed were a season-low by any Hurricane starter. The three overall hits allowed by Miami also tied a team-season-low.

Sheffield’s Cornell counterpart, Erik Rico, went 7.2 innings with four hits, one unearned run, six walks, six strikeouts, one wild pitch, and one balk in 133 pitches. John Hardy earned the loss in relief.

The Hurricanes opened the scoring in the first inning, 1-0, when Marcus Nettles scored from third on Javy Rodriguez’ sacrifice bunt toward first base. Nettles led off the inning with a walk, took second on a wild pitch and moved to thir on a throwing error by the catcher.

Cornell came back in the top of the second to tie the game, 1-1, off Nick Graham’s solo home run to right field.

Miami will next host Northeastern in a three-game series this Friday through Sunday at Mark Light Stadium. Start times are 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. All three games can be heard on WVUM 90.5 FM, as well as on the Internet at hurricanesports.com. UM’s flagship station Sports Radio 560 WQAM will carry Saturday’s game, while the Hurricanes’ Spanish Broadcast Network on WACC 830 AM Radio Paz will carry both Friday and Saturday contests. Fox Sports Net Florida will televise the Saturday game live.

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.