No. 1 Miami Doubles Up On New York Tech 14-7
May 19, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team (43-12), ranked No. 1 by Baseball America, Baseball Weekly/ESPN and the NCBWA, defeated New York Tech (19-29-1), 14-7, in front 2,442 fans Saturday night at Mark Light Stadium to clinch the series with the Bears.
Offensively, UM out-hit the Bears with 16 hits to New York Tech’s 11. It was the second straight night that the Hurricanes totaled 16 hits. Four UM batters had multiple hits, including Kris Clute (4), Mike Rodriguez (3), Greg Lovelady (2) and Kevin Brown (2). Additionally, the Hurricanes had six extra-base hits plus a home run from Brown.
UM starter Brian Walker (11-1) started had rough start in his outing allowing three runs on five hits in the top of the first. The Bears used seven batters in the inning and left two on when the third out was registered. Miami also committed two errors in the frame. Bryan Goelz led off the game with an infield single to the shortstop. Mike Gaffney followed with a single to left field. Ryan Nevins brought in the first two runs with a bases-clearing double to right center. Anthony St. George then knocked in Nevins with a single to left field.
The Hurricanes narrowed the New York Tech lead, 3-1, in the second on Greg Lovelady’s RBI double down the left field line that scored Kris Clute from first. One at bat earlier, Clute reached on a bunt single toward third base.
Miami bounced back with a six-run third inning, 7-3, batting around in the order and totaling five RBI with two outs showing. With one out, Mike Rodriguez doubled down the right field line. He was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Javy Rodriguez. Danny Matienzo drew a two-out walk. Kevin Mannix struck out swinging, but a passed ball on the play allowed Mike Rodriguez to score, Matienzo moved to second and Mannix to first. Clute knocked in the second run, Matienzo, with a single to left field. Lovelady followed with his second double of the evening to score Mannix. Kevin Brown drove in Lovelady with a double off the centerfield wall. Charlton Jimerson brought in the final run, Brown, with a single to left field then took second on the throw home.
The Bears brought in another run, 7 4 in the fourth when Steve Zydowsky hit into a double that allowed Mike Rick to come in from third. Rick led off with a walk and moved all the way to third on a single to right field from Kevi n Perucci.
In the bottom of the fourth, UM extended its lead, 9-4, with two runs on three hits as New York Tech removed its starting pitcher Rob Taormina (4-5) with reliever Dan Britton. Mike Rodriguez led off with a single up the middle and stole second, his 40th steal on the season. Javy Rodriguez followed with an infield single to second base, also moving Mike Rodriguez to third. Javy Rodriguez then stole his 53rd base of the season. Matienzo drove both runs in with a single to left field. After the two-RBI single the Bears removed Taormina.
Walker was replaced with Dan Smith to start the fifth inning. A pre-game determined move, Walker allowed seven hits, four runs (all earned), two walks and four strikeouts. NYIT’s Taormina went 3.0 innings with 11 hits, nine runs (three earned), one walk and four strikeouts.
Brown put the Hurricanes ahead, 10-4, in the fifth with his ninth home run of the season deep to left center.
Miami went ahead, 13-4, scoring three runs, including a two-RBI single from Mannix. With one out, Javy Rodriguez walked. Matienzo then reached on a fielder’s choice single, moving Javy Rodriguez to second on the play. Both runners stole second and third, respectively. Mannix then came up with a two-RBI single to left field to clear the bases. Clute followed with a single to right field. Mannix came around from second to score on a throwing error by the catcher.
Smith was relieved with Alex Prendes during the seventh. Prendes, with the bases loaded, retired the final batter to end the scoring threat. Smith went 2.2 innings with one hit, four walks and two strikeouts.
New York Tech added three runs in the eighth, 13-7, including a two-run home run by Anthony St. George. Goelz led off with a double to right center on Prendes. Gaffney then walked. Both runners moved over on a throwing error from Prendes. Nevins followed with a fielder’s choice grounder to score Goelz, with Gaffney out on the play. St. George came up with a two-run home run off reliever Luke DeBold to score the second and third runs of the inning.
UM put one more run on, 14-7, in the eighth on Clute’s RBI double to centerfield to score Javy Rodriguez from third. Javy Rodriguez led off the inning getting hit by a pitch, took second on a walk to Jim Burt and to third on Matt Dryer’s ground out.
With his 54 stolen bases in 2001, Javy Rodriguez now stands at No. 2 all-time in the single-season stolen base column behind No. 1 Orlando Gonzalez (62, 1974). When Mike Rodriguez stole his 40th base of the season in the game, it marked the first time that a UM team has had three players with 40 or more home runs. Nettles is the third player with 42.
The two teams will conclude the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM, as well as on the Internet at hurricanesports.com. Additionally, Sunday’s game will be on UM’s Spanish Broadcast Network on WACC 830 AM Radio Paz with Jerry del Castillo and Pepe Campos.
Tom Farmer (11-2, 3.58 ERA) rounds out the starting rotation on Sunday. Farmer leads the team in wins (11) and is ranked 16th nationally in pitching victories.
After the New York Tech series, UM will return to action the following weekend as its hosts its fifth consecutive NCAA Regional and 18th overall. UM has made 30 postseason appearances overall and a NCAA-record 29th consecutive.
Call 1-800-GO-CANES for ticket information regarding the upcoming NCAA Regional. 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.
