Hurricanes Battle Titans At The Light
March 29, 2001
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University of Miami Hurricanes (25-6)
#4 Baseball America, #6 Baseball Weekly/ESPN, #5 Collegiate Baseball
vs.Cal State Fullerton Titans (16-10)
#24 Baseball America, #28 Baseball Weekly/ESPN, #29 Collegiate Baseball
Friday: WACC 830 AM, WVUM 90.5 FM, www.hurricanesports.com
Saturday: Fox Sports Net Florida, WQAM 560 AM, WVUM 90.5 FM, www.hurricanesports.com
Sunday: Fox Sports Net Florida, WQAM 560 AM, WVUM 90.5 FM, WACC 830 AM, www.hurricanesports.com
March 30-April 1, 2001
Mark Light Stadium, Coral Gables, FL
MIAMI VS. CAL STATE FULLERTON —
The Hurricanes enter this weekend’s three-game series against Cal State Fullerton with an all-time record of 5-7 against the Titans. Among the 12 all-time meetings, seven have taken place in the regular season and five at the College World Series in Omaha, NE. The two teams have not faced each other since the 1996 season, when the Hurricanes took two of three games at Mark Light Stadium. In the seven regular season meetings, UM has a 4-3 record. Additionally, 10 of the 12 games have been decided by three runs or less.
UM SWEEPS SERIES WITH NORTHEASTERN —
The Hurricanes swept the series with Northeastern and moved their all-time record against the Huskies to 9-0. The Sunday victory allowed Head Coach Jim Morris to earn his 1,000th career victory.
Game #3, Miami 5, Northeastern 3 — Tom Farmer pitched 7.0 innings with three unearned runs allowed for the win. Luke DeBold and George Huguet combined to keep the Huskies scoreless the final 2.0 ininngs, with Huguet earning his third save of the weekend. UM actually rallied past Northeastern with two runs in the fifth to tie the score and the eventual winning run in the sixth. Matt Dryer had his first home run as a Hurricane to start the scoring in the third.
Game #2, Miami 5, Northeastern 2 — Kiki Bengochea pitched a strong 7.2 innings allowing six hits, two runs (one earned), two walks with seven strikeouts for the win. The bullpen, consisting of Alex Prendes and George Huguet (save No. 5), retired the final four batters over 1.1 innings to end the game. Mike Rodriguez was the lone batter to have a multiple-hit effort as the Huskies pitcher went the complete game for the loss.
Game #1, Miami 5, Northeastern 3 — UM came through with two runs in the seventh inning to make the difference in the win. Danny Matienzo homered, while he and Jim Burt had multiple hits. Brian Walker earned the win, his 14th straight since the 2000 season. Kevin Howard had the eventual game winning hit.
UM DEFEATS CORNELL 2-1 IN 10 —
With bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th, pinch-hitter Jim Burt hit a walk-off single to right field to score Javy Rodriguez from third for the game winning run. Right-hander Chris Sheffield had arguably one of the best outings by a UM starter this season, pitching a career-high 7.0 innings (108 pitches) with a team-season-best 11 strikeouts. He allowed a season-low by a starter two hits with just one earned run, with three walks. Reliever Andrew Cohn earned his first collegiate victory, retiring the final Cornell batter in the top half of the 10th.
MIAMI WINS SERIES WITH #20 EAST CAROLINA —
Miami took its series with #20 East Carolina two games to one with wins on Friday (14-13) and Sunday (8-4). UM fell to the Pirates, 7-2, on Saturday. Miami now leads the all-time series with ECU 3-2. Prior to 2001, ECU won, 6-5, in Coral Gables during the 1999 season. UM defeated ECU, 6-4, during NCAA Regional play in Tallahassee in 1984.
Game #3, Miami 8, East Carolina 4 (8 inn.) — With a 45-minute rain delay at the start and a one-hour delay in the third, the Hurricanes pulled out the win in an eight inning curfew-shortened game. Tom Farmer scored the victory as UM rolled out to a 6-1 lead going into the seventh. ECU came back with three off Farmer in the seventh and Andrew Cohn finished off the final 1.1 innings for his first save. Kevin Howard went 4-4, while Mike DiRosa went 3-4.
Game #2, East Carolina 7, Miami 2 — ECU jumped ahead 3-2 in the seventh inning, followed by a four-run ninth for the victory. UM began the game strong with two runs in the first. Two of ECU’s first three runs were solo home runs off Kiki Bengochea.
Game #1, Miami 14, East Carolina 13 — Miami went ahead 12-2 by the seventh inning with a solid pitching performance by Brian Walker, steady hitting and timely defense. Five relievers allowed ECU to pull within 14-13 in the top of the ninth before Luke DeBold was able to retire the final out.
MIAMI SWEEPS SOUTH FLORIDA IN TAMPA —
The Hurricanes took both games with South Florida in Tampa to extend its streak to seven straight over the Bulls. UM has not lost to USF since the final meeting of the 1998 season. The two wins push the all-time series to 73-25 in favor of UM, including a 15-3 mark during the Jim Morris era.
Game #2, Miami 13, South Florida 9 — Miami came out on top of a slugfest with USF, as both teams had 15 hits apiece. Dan Smith earned his first career win with a career-high 4.0 innings of relief. Kevin Howard went 4-5 from the plate with a home run and a double. Four other UM batters had multiple hits. The game was tied, 7-7, after two innings of play.
Game #1, Miami 8, South Florida 2 — Chris Sheffield earned the win for UM as he went a career-high 6.0 innings with just two earned runs allowed. Four UM batters accounted for the eight hits. UM turned a 2-1 deficit into the 8-2 win with seven runs over the final four innings.
MIAMI LOSES HOME SERIES TO RUTGERS —
The Hurricanes dropped two of three games to Rutgers to end a streak of 19 straight three-game series won at Mark Light Stadium. The last loss by UM in a three-game series at the Light was during the 1998 season to Florida State.
Miami now leads the series with Rutgers, 31-7, since the 1967 season, including a 12-4 mark during the Jim Morris era (1994-present).
Game #3, Rutgers 9, Miami 6 — The Hurricanes allowed a season-high six errors which led to seven unearned runs in the nine total runs Rutgers recorded. RU totaled its runs in a five-run third, a three-run fifth and one in the eighth. All five in the third were unearned. Kevin Brown’s home run marked the 38th of his career, tying him with Charles Johnson for 6th place.
Game #2, Miami 13, Rutgers 2 — An All-around effort led UM to the big 13-2 vitctory over Rutgers. The offense pounded out 13 runs, 12 hits and 10 RBI with nine stolen bases. The defense made zero errors and one double play, while allowing no stolen bases. The pitching allowed just two runs in the third inning and holding Rutgers to seven hits.
Game #1, Rutgers 6, Miami 4 (10 innings) — Despite scoring two runs in the bottom of the 10th, UM was unable to get past Rutgers’ four-run top of the inning. A pitching battle throughout gave way to Rutgers scoring four runs on three hits off Vince Vazquez. The Hurricanes scored two runs on two hits with two left on in the bottom of the 10th.
MIAMI IN EXTRA INNING HOME GAMES —
With its 6-4 loss to Rutgers in Game No. 1’s 10 innings, Miami ends a string of two straight extra-inning home game victories. In their last 19 extra-inning home games, UM is 17-2-1. The last home loss in extra innings was 7-6 (12 innings) vs. Cal-State Fullertong on May 18, 1996.
HURRICANES WIN SEVENTH STRAIGHT WITH 6-2 VICTORY OVER PITTSBURGH —
Javy Rodriguez’ three-RBI triple in the seventh and a multiple-hit night by Jim Burt and Marcus Nettles was all the offense UM needed for its seventh straight victory, 6-2, in a mid-week game against Pittsburgh. Chris Sheffield through a no-hitter over the first 4.0 innings, while the bullpen finished the final five with just three hits and one earned run. The three hits tied a season-low allowed by the UM pitching staff.
HALL OF FAMER TONY OLIVA VISITS HURRICANES AT METRODOME —
Hall of Famer Tony Oliva, who played for the Minnesota Twins from 1962-76, visited the Hurricanes in their dugout just prior to the game vs. Minnesota. A native Cuban, Oliva was able to meet several of the Hurricanes with Hispanic heritage: pitching coach Lazaro Collazo, Javy Rodriguez, Alex Prendes, Kiki Bengochea, George Huguet, Danny Matienzo, Vince Vazquez and Mike Rodriguez.
Oliva was the only player in major league history to win batting titles in his first two full seasons (1964-65). He was one of the most graceful, natural hitters of all time, but had his career cut short by a bad knee. He was an All-Star selection from 1964-71 and was the Gold Glove award winner in 1966.
HURRICANES WIN HORMEL FOODS CLASSIC TITLE WITH SWEEP —
Miami claimed the 2001 Hormel Foods Baseball Classic with a three-game sweep of San Diego State, Minnesota and Arkansas at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Javy Rodriguez was named the tournament’s MVP as well as All-Tournament shortstop, while Brian Walker (SP), Kevin Howard (3B), Kevin Mannix (OF) and Mike Rodriguez (OF) were also named All-Tournament selections.
The sweep gave Miami its second University of Minnesota tournament championship in its three all-time appearances (1986, 1990, 2001). The Hurricanes also had a three-game sweep for the title during the 1990 season at the Pillsbury Baseball Classic. The 1986 advanced to the championship game of the Wheatis Tournament of Champions, but fell to Michigan. Javy Rodriguez joins Oscar Munoz (1990) as UM’s Tournament MVP’s.
Game #3 Miami 8, Arkansas 2 — UM moved to 4-0 all-time vs. Arkansas and 158-114-1 vs. the SEC with its 8-2 win. For the third straight game UM used a solid all-around effort for the victory, including zero errors and a season-high three double plays turned. Tom Farmer (4-0) earned the win with 7.0 innings pitched with both runs coming off misplayed fly balls in right field. Mike Rodriguez went 3-4 in the game, while Mike DiRosa homered for the second time during the tournament.
Game #2 Miami 10, Minnesota 1 — UM moved to 11-3 all-time vs. Minnesota and 94-40-5 vs. the Big Ten with its 10-1 win. UM is also 20-4-1 vs. the Big Ten under Coach Morris. Brian Walker (5-0) led UM to victory with his 12th consecutive decision dating back to 2000 and allowed a team-season-best three hits in 7.0 innings pitched. Javy Rodriguez went 4-4 in the game with three RBI. Walker’s lone run came on a sacrifice fly with bases loaded and no outs.
Game #1 Miami 8, San Diego State 6 — UM won the first-ever meeting with San Diego State and moved to 4-0 all-time vs. teams currently in the Mountain West Conference with its 8-6 win. After falling behind 2-0 in the first, Miami came back with three in the third to take the lead for good. Kiki Bengochea (3-0) went 7.0 innings for the win with a team-season-best eight strikeouts. Mike DiRosa and Kevin Brown each homered.
VAZQUEZ MAKES RETURN IN 14-0 SHUTOUT OF ALBANY–
Redshirt sophomore Vince Vazquez made his long-awaited return to the mound against Albany pitching the seventh inning. Vazquez, a preseason All-American entering the 2000 campaign, missed all of 2000 recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery. In his one inning against Albany, Vazquez retired all three batters faced, two by strikeout.
Tom Farmer pitched 5.0 innings, allowing four hits, no runs or walks with six strikeouts. 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. Matt Dryer, Kevin Mannix and Kevin Howard each recorded their first triples the 2001 season for the new mark.
