Gators Thwart UM Rally For A 12-9 Win
Feb. 8, 2002
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – – Trailing 12-4 going into the bottom of the ninth inning, the Hurricanes scored five runs but still fell to the visiting Gators (4-0) 12-9 in front of 3,513 fans at Mark Light Stadium Friday night.
The Miami loss snapped the Hurricanes 13-game win streak over Florida at home since 1996 and a four-game win streak over the Gators dating back to last season. With the defeat, Miami fell to 2-3 on the season.
In the ninth with UF’s Scot Drucker (1-0) on the mound, Javy Rodriguez led off with a single to centerfield. Danny Figueroa then drew a walk. After Kevin Howard’s fly out to left field, Danny Matienzo drove in the first run with a double down the third base line. Kevin Mannix followed with his second home run of the season, a three-run shot to left field. Kevin Coleman entered the game for the Gators and issued a walk to Matt Dryer to put another run on base. Haas Pratt, who hit his first home run of the season in the second inning, popped out in foul territory to right field for the second out. After Dryer moved to second on a Coleman wild pitch, Jim Burt brought him in with a double to left field. The rally ended with pinch-hitter Paco Figueroa’s strikeout.
The Hurricane bullpen were unable to hold an early 4-3 UM lead after starter Troy Roberson departed following five innings. Miami allowed nine runs (seven earned) over the final three innings. Hurricane reliever Vince Vazquez (0-1), who started the seventh, allowed six runs (four earned) and Dan Touchet three earned runs over the final three innings.
Drucker went three innings of relief for starter Keith Ramsey, who pitched 5.1 innings with five hits, four runs (two earned), three walks and three strikeouts. Drucker allowed four earned runs, two walks with one strikeout.
The Gators rallied past Miami in that seventh inning to turn a 4-3 deficit into a 9-4 advantage on four hits and one error. Aaron Davidson led off the inning with a walk. Mark Kiger followed with a single to left field. Mario Garza loaded the bases when Vazquez committed a throwing error to first base on a bunt. Pat Osborn brought the first run in with a single to left field. Ben Harrison followed with a single to left center to drive in two more runs. Ryan Shealy then drew a walk to reload the bases. With Touchet on the mound, David Klebonis hit a high bouncing grounder over third base to score Harrison and Osborn. The final run came in, Shealy, on a passed ball by Matienzo.
Florida scored what turned out to be three very important insurance runs with one in the eighth and two in the ninth.
The Gators out-hit Miami 15-10 in the game and handed UM its first two-game losing streak since dropping three to Cal State Fullerton in the middle of the 2001 season. UM was last under .500 on the season during 2000 when the Hurricanes started 4-5 on the year.
Florida opened up the scoring in the top of the first, 1-0, when Harrison scored from third on Osborn’s ground out to the shortstop. Harrison led off the inning with a double to centerfield and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Kiger.
The Hurricanes went ahead in the second, 2-1, on Pratt’s two-run home run over the scoreboard in left field. The home run by Pratt brought home Mannix who drew a walk earlier in the inning.
The Gators tied the score in the third, 2-2, on Garza’s solo home run to left field.
Miami regained the lead, 4-2, in the fourth on two hits and one error. With two outs, Dryer reached on a fielding error by the right fielder. Pratt then brought Dryer home with a double to left field. Pratt came home on the next at bat when Burt drove a single to right field.
Florida edged into the Miami lead, 4-3, in the fifth when Matt Goss scored from third on a RBI ground out from Kiger to the shortstop. Goss got on base with a fielder’s choice grounder to first base that forced Brian Rose out on the play. Goss then moved to third on Davidson’s double to right center.
Saturday night’s game will be highlighted by the appearance of former Hurricane All-American and Florida Marlins star Charles Johnson, who will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and have his jersey number 23 retired on the outfield wall. Johnson, the ninth player/coach to have his number retired, will throw out the first pitch to his college coach, the legendary Ron Fraser.
For more information on UM athletics and the Hurricane baseball team, log on to www.hurricanesports.com. For ticket information call 1-800 GO CANES.
