Miami Wins In 16-3 Rout Over Florida Southern
May 12, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team (40-12), ranked No. 1 in the Baseball Weekly/ESPN Top 25 College Coaches’ Poll, defeated Florida Southern (35-17), 16-3, in front of 2,474 fans Saturday night at Mark Light Stadium. The victory clinched the series for the top-ranked Hurricanes.
An all-around effort by the club led to favorable statistics in nearly every category. The offense belted 16 runs, 15 hits, 15 RBI, two home runs, three doubles, two sac flys and drew 11 walks. While on base, the Hurricanes accumulated nine steals on multiple efforts from the top four speedsters: Marcus Nettles’ career-high 3 (38), Mike Rodriguez 2 (35), Javy Rodriguez 2 (50), Charlton Jimerson 2 (17). A failed pick-off attempt was the lone defensive miscue in otherwise a performance that saw two inning-ending double plays and a spectacular over-the-fence catch by Charlton Jimerson to rob an early ending home run threat.
Before Florida Southern starter Brent Franklin (9-5) could get settled UM had already jumped out to a 10-3 lead after four innings. The Moccasin bullpen of Nick Lee (2) and Ryan Thompson (4) allowed six runs in relief. Franklin allowed six hits, 10 runs (all earned), seven walks and two strikeouts. Lee and Thompson had nine hits, four walks and no strikeouts.
UM starter Brian Walker (10-1) pitched 5.0 solid innings with three earned runs on five hits, three walks and three strikeouts. Walker gave up two solo home runs in the second inning. He left the game with the Hurricanes comfortably ahead 10-3. Following Walker was a season-best bullpen effort that saw four pitchers allow one hit, one walk with six strikeouts.
Vince Vazquez shed an early hit in the sixth to retire his final five batters faced in 1.1 innings with a walk and two strikeouts. Alex Prendes had a strikeout-passed ball for a base-runner in the seventh. Luke DeBold followed up with three strikeouts in 1.1 innings. George Huguet finished the ninth retiring the side.
Miami opened the scoring, 3-0, in the first with three runs off two hits and a walk. Nettles led off the inning with a walk. Mike Rodriguez then reached on a bunt single, but an errant throw allowed Nettles to move to third. Javy Rodriguez walked to load the bases. Kevin Howard drove in the first run, Nettles, on a ground out to the second baseman. Danny Matienzo followed with a two-RBI ground rule double over the centerfield wall to clear the bases.
The Moccasins answered with two runs in the top of the second, 3-2, on a pair of solo home runs from Justin Hancock and Mark Furbush.
UM extended its lead, 5-2, in the bottom of the second. Greg Lovelady led off with a walk. Jimerson followed with a single to centerfield. Nettles moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt. Mike Rodriguez drove in the first run, Lovelady, with a sacrifice fly RBI to centerfield. After Jimerson stole third, Javy Rodriguez knocked him in with a single to right field.
The Hurricanes upped the score, 7-2, in the third on Clute’s two-out, two-run home run to left field, also scoring Mannix. Just prior to Clute’s third home run on the season, Mannix reached with a single to right field.
UM added three more runs in the fourth inning, 10-2, as Florida Southern removed Franklin from the mound with Lee. With one out, Nettles had reached on a walk and stole second. Mike Rodriguez then walked. Javy Rodriguez hit into a fielder’s choice to reach first, but Nettles was tagged out on the scoring attempt. Both Mike and Javy Rodriguez moved over with a double-steal. Howard followed with a walk to load the bases. Matienzo drew a walk to force Mike Rodriguez in from third. A wild pitch by Lee allowed Javy Rodriguez to score. Mannix drove in the third run, Howard, with an infield single to the shortstop.
The Moccasins added a run, 10-3, in the fifth with Michael Tucker’s fielder’s choice RBI that scored Josh Hollingsworth from third. Hollingsworth led off with a single up the middle, moved to second on Azarias Corbeil’s walk, then stole third.
UM went ahead, 12-3, in the bottom of the fifth on Mike Rodriguez’ two-RBI double to left center that scored Jimerson and Nettles. Jimerson reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and moved to third on a balk. Nettles walked and stole second.
Miami went up 16-3 in the eighth, including a home run blast by Brown. Brown began the scoring with his two-run shot high over the left field scoreboard that also brought in Jim Burt. Burt earlier reached with a walk. After Jimerson drew a walk, Haas Pratt hit a single to right center. Brad Safchik then scored Jimerson with a ground out to second base. Pratt added the last run on Matt Dryer’s single to centerfield.
With the win UM hit the 40-win mark, marking the eighth straight year UM has done so — all under Head Coach Jim Morris. The victory also comes in Morris’ 500th game at Miami.
The three-game series victory was the Hurricanes 11th on the year and fifth consecutive at home.
Mike Rodriguez, on the first of his two stolen bases in the fourth inning, broke the school-record for consecutive stolen bases without a caught stealing (31). He previously tied Joel Green’s mark of 30 set over the 1969 and 1970 seasons with his steal on Friday night.
Additionally, the quartet of Javy Rodriguez (50), Nettles (38) Mike Rodriguez (35) and Jimerson (17) may be among the base stealers all-time at Miami. The combined stolen bases of the 2001 four (140) is third-most by a UM foursome all-time. The trio of Javy and Mike Rodriguez and Nettles have the second-most combined steals (123).
Miami and Florida Southern conclude the series Sunday at 1 p.m. The game is televised by Fox Sports Net Florida with WPLG Channel 10 sportscaster Frank Forte and FSN and WQAM’s Joe Zagacki calling the action. The game can also be heard on UM’s flagship station Sports Radio 560 WQAM with “The Voice of the Hurricanes” Marc Vandermeer. Each and every game of the season can always be heard on “The student voice of the Hurricanes” WVUM 90.5 FM and on the UM athletics website at hurricanesports.com.
Following Florida Southern, UM returns to action next weekend against New York Tech in the regular season’s final weekend. UM’s Spanish Broadcast Network on WACC 830 AM with Jerry del Castillo and Pepe Campos pick up all three contests. WVUM and hurricanesports.com will also have the series.
Call 1-800-GO-CANES for ticket information regarding the season’s final regular season series against New York Tech and the upcoming NCAA Regionals. 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.
