Baseball Takes First Game With Northeastern 5-3
March 23, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team (23-6), ranked as high as sixth by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball, defeated Northeastern (2-5), 5-3, in front of 2,175 fans at Mark Light Stadium.
UM starter Brian Walker (7-0) notched his 14th consecutive victory dating back to last season after going 5.2 innings with four hits, two runs (one earned), four walks and four strikeouts. He also added to his single-season school-record with his 12th pick-off recorded in the first inning.
Luke DeBold came in relief of Walker during the sixth and held the Huskies scoreless through the end of the eighth. George Huguet gave up one run in the ninth to Northeastern, but held on for his fourth save of the season.
Northeastern opened the scoring, 2-0, in the fourth inning. Luke Carlin was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Omar Pena followed with a walk. Mike Lomuscio moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. Ben Beck then drove in the first run, Carlin, with a single to centerfield. Pena scored the second run on a passed ball by Danny Matienzo.
Miami answered the Huskies in the bottom of the fourth with two runs to knot the game up at 2-2. Mike Rodriguez had the first hit with a single to left field and stole second. He then came in on Kevin Mannix’ double down the left field line. After Haas Pratt registered the second out of the inning, Jim Burt singled followed by a throwing error on the shortstop that allowed Mannix to score.
The Hurricanes went up 3-2 in the fifth when Marcus Nettles scored from third on Kevin Howard’s ground out to second base. Nettles led off the frame with a walk and stole second. He moved to third on a pop fly to right field.
Miami extended its lead in the seventh, 5-2, on Matienzo’s two-run home run to centerfield that also Kevin Howard. Howard reached base with an infield single toward first base.
Miami and Northeastern continue the series on Saturday at 7 p.m. with game televised live by Fox Sports Net Florida. Additionally, the game will be broadcast by UM’s flagship station Sports Radio 560 WQAM and in Spanish on WACC 830 AM Radio Paz, as well as the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM and on the Internet at hurricanesports.com. The two teams will conclude the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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.
