Cal State Fullerton Defeats Miami 9-2 For Series Sweep
April 1, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team (25-9) were swept for the first time in a three-game series at Mark Light Stadium, since 1973, after falling to visiting Cal State Fullerton (19-10) 9-2 in front of 1,549 fans.
Miami fell the previous two nights to the 24th-ranked Titans, 8-2 and 8-5, respectively. The Hurricanes, who were last swept in a three-game series during the 2000 season by Florida State in Tallahassee, had previously gone 0-2-1 against Clemson in 1987 and FSU in 1958 at the Light.
Cal State Fullerton used a potent offense on UM starter Tom Farmer (6-2), totaling 15 hits on the senior. The Titans totaled 19 hits overall, a season-high vs. the Hurricanes. The 15 hits allowed by a single pitcher was the most at UM since Bob Bartlett vs. Florida during the 1973 season. Farmer also allowed eight runs (all earned), one walk and two strikeouts.
Titan starter Kirk Saarloos (7-2) pitched a complete game for the victory, allowing seven hits, two earned runs, two walks and eight strikeouts.
Cal State Fullerton opened up the scoring, 3-0, with three runs off four hits. Aaron Rifkin led off the inning with an infield single to the shortstop. Mike Rouse moved Rifkin over with a sacrifice bunt. Chris Stringfellow then reached with an infield single to third base. Rifkin scored on Matt Belfanti’s double down the left field line. P.J. Pilittere drove Stringfellow in with a single to centerfield. Belfanti would later score on Shawn Norris’ ground out to second base.
UM narrowed the deficit, 3-1, on Jim Burt’s solo home run to left field.
The Titans added two runs to their lead, 5-1, in the fourth on four hits. Rouse led off with a single to first base. He later took second on a wild pitch. Belfanti singled to left field and took second on throw in. Rouse moved to third on the play. Pilittere drove both runners in with a single to left field.
Cal State Fullerton extended its lead, 6-1, in the sixth when Pilittere scored on Norris’ single to centerfield. Pilittere reached base on a walk and stole second.
The Titans put three more runs across in the seventh, 9-1, on four hits. Robert Guzman led off with a single to right field. Jason Corapci followed with a single to right field, allowing Guzman to reach third. Guzman scored on Rouse’ bunt single to the pitcher. Stringfellow knocked in the next two runs, Corapci and Rouse, with a double to left center.
UM scored one run, 9-2, in the eighth when Javy Rodriguez knocked in Brad Safchik from first base with a double to left center. Safchik reached on single to left field.
Miami will return to action next weekend vs. Savannah State in a three-game series at Mark Light Stadium.
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