Baseball Sweeps Florida Southern 5-4
May 13, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team (41-12), ranked No. 1 in the Baseball Weekly/ESPN Top 25 College Coaches’ Poll, completed its three-game sweep of Florida Southern (35-18), 5-4, in front of 1,415 fans Sunday afternoon at Mark Light Stadium.
A pitcher’s duel for most of the game led way to the Hurricanes scoring four runs in the sixth inning to catapult past Florida Southern’s upset attempt. The Moccasins’ starter John Connally Barnett (9-5) had a no-hitter through 3.0 innings and just two hits allowed through 5.2 innings. Barnett lasted 7.1 innings before being relieved with Corey Perkins in the eighth. In his 7.1 innings pitched, Barnett gave up five hits, five runs (all earned), four walks and seven strikeouts.
Other than the two home runs that led to all three Florida Southern runs, UM starter Tom Farmer (11-2) allowed three hits overall, three walks and four strikeouts. Luke DeBold began the seventh in relief and struck out the side. He struck out the first two batters in the eighth, before Alex Prendes came in to retire the final batter. Closer George Huguet allowed two hits and one run in the ninth before earning his 12th save for the Hurricanes. UM pitchers combined to retire Florida Southern batters 1-2-3 in five of the final six innings.
Offensively, UM and Florida Southern each had five hits. Danny Matienzo led the Hurricanes going 2-for-4 at the plate with a single, a triple and two RBI. Mike Rodriguez, Kevin Howard and Kevin Mannix each recorded hits. Mannix put the Hurricane ahead with a two-run home run in the sixth. Marcus Nettles brought his stolen base total to 40 with two in the game, followed by Mike Rodriguez’ 36th on the year.
The Moccasins started strong scoring two runs in the top of the first off Azarias Corbeil’s home run, a two-run shot to left field. Corbeil’s team-high 15th home run also scored Jeff Lucas, who led off the inning with a walk.
Florida Southern extended its lead, 3-0, in the fourth inning on Justin Hancock’s solo home run to left field, his 13th of the season.
UM narrowed Florida Southern’s lead, 3-1, in the bottom of the fourth when Mike Rodriguez came in from third on Howard’s ground out to the shortstop. Mike Rodriguez earlier led off with a double to right field and moved to third on a Javy Rodriguez ground out.
Miami broke out in the sixth inning to grab the lead, 5-3, with a two-out four-run rally on Barnett. With one out, Mike Rodriguez walked and stole second. He moved to third on Javy Rodriguez’ fly out to centerfield. Howard then walked. Matienzo drove in the tying runs with a two-RBI triple deep to centerfield. Mannix put the Hurricanes ahead with his two-run home run to left field.
Florida Southern did not go quietly in the top of the ninth as the Moccasins scored one run and had a runner on base when the final out was registered. Huguet struck out the first batter in the inning, before allowing a par of singles to Hancock and Dan Chamberlain. Mark Furbush hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring Hancock while getting pinch-runner Gil Martinez out on the play. Jared Powers flew out deep to left field to end the threat.
UM returns to action next weekend against New York Tech in a three-game series beginning Friday. UM’s Spanish Brodacast Network in WACC 830 AM Radio Paz will pick up all three games. Each and every game can always be heard on the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM, as well as via the Internet on hurricanesports.com.
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.
