Javy Rodriguez Leads Miami Past Stetson 10-9
April 30, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – Javy Rodriguez hit a walk-off single with bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to push No. 3 Miami (36-11) past No. 9 Stetson (40-7), 10-9, in front of 1,147 fans at Mark Light Stadium Monday night.
Down 9-6 in the top of the ninth, Stetson’s Brian Snyder hit a two-out three-run home run off UM closer George Huguet (1-0) to tie the game.
UM rallied in the bottom of the inning as Kris Clute led off with a double to right center. Kevin Brown then hit an infield single to move Clute to third. After Greg Lovelady struck out, Stetson intentionally walked Brad Safchik to load the bases. Javy Rodriguez followed with his game-winning single, a ground ball that bounced over third base.
Chris Sheffield started the game for the Hurricanes pitching 5.0 innings with three hits, two runs (both earned), three walks, nine strikeouts and one wild pitch. His Stetson counterpart Jack Collins pitched 5.0 innings with seven hits, six runs (all earned), four walks, one strikeout, one wild pitch and two hit batters. Stetson reliever Andy Wilson (2-1) took the loss.
UM and Stetson each had 12 hits in the game with the Hurricanes’ Javy Rodriguez and Danny Matienzo with three hits apiece. Lovelady, with the assistance of a three-run home run in the second inning, led the Hurricanes with four RBI. UM base runners totaled seven stolen bases to Stetson’s zero.
With Stetson’s No. 9 ranking from Collegiate Baseball, the Hurricanes are now 6-1 against teams ranked in the top 10. UM went 5-1 against then No. 4 and No. 7 Florida State.
Brian Zenchyk put the Hatters on the scoreboard in the first inning when he doubled in lead off batter Jeff Christy with a two-out shot to left center. Christy opened the game with a double down the left field line.
The Hurricanes answered in the bottom of the first when Matienzo hit a two-out RBI single to right field to score Kevin Howard from second. Howard reached base with a single to right center and stole second.
Miami took the lead in the second, 4-1, on Lovelady’s three-run home run to left field, also scoring Kevin Mannix and Brown. Mannix led off the inning with a single to centerfield and moved to second on a Clute sacrifice bunt. Brown was hit by a Collins pitch to put runners on first and second.
UM extended its lead, 6-1, in the third. Matienzo led off the inning with a single to right field. Mike Rodriguez followed with a single to centerfield. Both runners moved over on a wild pitch. Mannix then walked to load the bases. Clute drove in the first run, Matienzo, one a RBI fielder’s choice to left field with Mannix out at second. Brown was then hit by a pitch for the second time in the game to re-load the bases. Lovelady drove in the second run of inning, Mike Rodriguez, with a sacrifice fly RBI to centerfield.
Stetson scored a run in the fifth to narrow the UM lead to 6-2 when Lee Bagley reached on a fielder’s choice allowing Josh Laws to score from third. Laws led off the inning with a single to centerfield and moved to third on a ground out from Christy. He took third on a wild pitch.
The Hatters came back with three runs on two outs in the sixth to bring the UM lead to 6-5. Vinnie Rinaldi hit a triple to right center scoring Snyder from second. Snyder had reached on a walk and moved to second on Wilson’s ground out. The second run was scored when Rinaldi came around to score on Laws shallow single to left field. Christy then drove in Laws with a single to right center.
UM answered in the bottom of the sixth with two runs to hold an 8-5 lead. Marcus Nettles led off the inning reaching first on a fielding error by the shortstop. He then stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Javy Rodriguez followed with a walk. Howard knocked in Nettles with a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop, moving Javy Rodriguez to second, but getting out at first. Javy Rodriguez then stole third and came in on Matienzo’s RBI single to right field.
Frank Corr led off the seventh with a solo home run off the top of the scoreboard in left field to bring the score within 8-6.
UM added a run in the bottom of the seventh, 9-6, on Javy Rodriguez’ RBI bloop single to right field scoring Brown from second. Brown led off the inning with a walk and took second on a sacrifice bunt by Lovelady.
Miami will return to action this weekend with a three-game series against Jacksonville, beginning this Friday at Mark Light Stadium. Game times are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
All three games can be heard over the Internet at hurricanesports.com, as well as on the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM.
For information on single game tickets for the remainder of the Hurricanes’ 2001 regular season and postseason call 1-800-GO-CANES. 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.
