Baseball Wins 5-4 Thriller Over Florida State
April 14, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – Miami (29-10) scored five runs over the first two innings and held on for the 5-4 victory over Florida State (33-8) in front of 5,643 fans at Mark Light Stadium Saturday night.
The one-run decision is nothing new to the rivalry between the two schools, as UM and FSU have played 10 one-run games over the last 19 since 1998. FSU defeated Miami, 10-9, in the 2001 series-opener on Friday night. The loss for the Seminoles also breaks their nine-game winning streak and two-game streak against the Hurricanes since last year’s NCAA Super Regionals. Overall, UM leads FSU 35-27 in one-run games over the 218 total played between the two schools since 1951.
The 5,643 in attendance was the largest crowd at Mark Light Stadium since UM defeated South Carolina, 14-2, in the NCAA Regionals on May 23, 1998. The crowd was the largest vs. FSU since 6,290 came out to see the Hurricanes defeat the Seminoles, 5-4, on April 25, 1992.
Brian Walker (8-1) earned the win on the mound for Miami, while Matt Lynch (5-2) took the loss. UM closer George Huguet earned his eighth save of the season retiring the final two batters in the ninth. After Walker left the game following 5.1 innings pitched, the Hurricane bullpen consisting of Luke DeBold, Alex Prendes and Huguet held the Seminoles to just one hit over the final 3.2 innings. DeBold threw a season-high 2.2 innings in relief with a career-best five strikeouts.
The Hurricanes came out strong scoring two runs in the first inning on Danny Matienzo’s two-run shot deep to left center, also scoring Marcus Nettles. Nettles led off the inning with a walk and stole second.
The Seminoles answered in the top of the second with one run off a throwing error by Walker on a stolen base attempt by Karl Jernigan. Jernigan reached base on a hit-by-pitch and moved to second on a walk to Nick Rogers. He came around to score after Walker over threw Kevin Howard at third base on Jernigan’s steal.
In the bottom of the second, UM extended its lead to 5-1 with three runs on two hits and two errors. With one out, Howard singled to right center and took second on a fielding error by the centerfielder. Howard came around to score when Kris Clute reached on fielding error by the second baseman. Clute then registered the second out getting picked-off. Mike DiRosa followed with a walk and stole second. Nettles then drew a walk. Both DiRosa and Nettles came around to score on Charlton Jimerson’s two-RBI double to right center.
FSU narrowed the UM lead, 5-3, in the fifth inning on John-Ford Griffin’s two-run home run to right center, also scoring Bryan Zech. Zech reached with a single to left field.
The Seminoles scored another run in the sixth, 5-4, when Chris Hart hit an RBI single off DeBold to score Jernigan from second. Walker started the inning for the Hurricanes and put Jernigan and Rogers on base with a single and walk, respectively. After he retired Jeff Probst for the first out of the inning, DeBold entered the game. Hart then knocked in the Seminoles fourth run, before DeBold struck out Tony Richie and Zech to end the threat.
Walker finished the evening going 5.1 innings with six hits, four runs (three earned), four walks and five strikeouts. His counterpart, Lynch, also went 5.1 innings with four hits, five runs (two earned), five walks and four strikeouts. Both starters threw 99 pitches.
Throwing out the ceremonial first pitches on Saturday were University president Edward T. “Tad” Foote and Orlando Magic superstar Tracy McGrady. Magic teammates Mike Miller and Michael Doleac were also in attendance.
The two teams conclude the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Mark Light Stadium. University president Tad Foote will be throwing out the Ceremonial First Pitch. The first 500 fans through the gates will receive a FREE University of Miami/Fuddrucker’s Baseball Bat on Sunday.
Fox Sports Net Florida will continue its coverage of the series with a live broadcast with WPLG Channel 10 sportscaster Frank Forte, WQAM’s Joe Zagacki and former UM standout Wicho Hernandez.
UM’s flagship station Sports Radio WQAM, with the voice of the Hurricanes Marc Vandermeer, will also carry Sunday’s game on WAXY 790 AM. The game can also be heard over the Internet at hurricanesports.com, as well as on 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.
