Baseball Drops Second Straight To Cal State Fullerton 8-5
March 31, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team (25-8) were dealt an 8-5 loss to #24 Cal State Fullerton (18-10) in front of 2,986 fans at Mark Light Stadium.
The Titans held off a late UM rally to take the series with the Hurricanes after defeating Miami 8-2 in the series opener on Friday. Miami loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth with one out, but were unable to score. Cal State Fullerton used a five-run fifth inning to hold-off UM.
UM starter Kiki Bengochea (5-2) took the loss after going 5.1 innings and allowing 11 hits, a career-high eight runs (all earned), two walks and four strikeouts. Cal State Fullerton’s Darric Merrell (2-2) earned the win after going 6.0 innings with six hits, four runs (three earned), two walks and seven strikeouts.
The Hurricanes opened the scoring, 1-0, in the third inning when Marcus Nettles scored from third on a Jim Burt single to right field. Nettles reached base with an infield single, stole second and took third on a wild pitch.
Cal State Fullerton answered, 2-1, with two runs in the fourth. Jason Corapci led off with an infield single. Aaron Rifkin then drew a walk. Jason Rouse moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt. Chris Stringfellow drove both runners in with a single to right field.
The Titans broke the game open, 7-1, in the fifth with five runs off six hits. Shawn Norris was hit by a pitch to lead off. Jason Bacani then hit an infield single to third base. Robert Guzman moved both runners over with a ground out to first base. Corapci then came up with a two-RBI double down the left field line. Rifkin drove in Corapci with a double to centerfield. Bengochea recorded a throwing error on a Rouse bunt single to allow Rifkin to score. Stringfellow followed up with another bunt single to the pitcher to put runners on first and second. Shane Costa loaded the bases with a single to right field. The fifth run came in when P.J. Pilittere reached on a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop, allowing Rouse to come in.
In the bottom of the fifth the Hurricanes narrowed the Titans’ lead, 7-2, when Greg Lovelady scored from third on Burt’s sacrifice fly to centerfield. Lovelady reached base with a single off the pitcher. Clute then moved Lovelady over as he reached on a fielding error by the shortstop. Nettles was hit by a pitch to load the bases prior to Burt’s sac fly.
Cal State Fullerton added a run in the sixth, 8-2, when Bacani scored from third on a wild pitch by Vince Vazquez. Bacani reached base with a double down the left field line. Guzman moved him over with a sacrifice bunt. Corapci and Rifkin then drew consecutive walks to load the bases.
In the seventh, UM dug into the Cal State Fullerton lead, 8-5, off Clute’s three-run home run to left field that also scored Haas Pratt and Lovelady. Pratt led off the inning with a single to right field and moved to second on a wild pitch. Lovelady then singled to centerfield, moving Pratt to third. With new pitcher Shane Waroff on the mound, Clute hit his second home run of the season.
The two teams will conclude the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game can be heard over the Internet at hurricanesports.com. The game will be televised by Fox Sports Net Florida with WPLG Channel 10 sportscaster Frank Forte, Zagacki and Luis “Wicho” Hernandez on the call. UM’s flagship station Sports Radio 560 WQAM, featuring the “Voice of the Hurricanes” Marc Vandermeer and UM’s Spanish Broadcast Network on WACC 830 AM Radio Paz with Jerry del Castillo and Pepe Campos will carry the game, along with the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM.
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.
