Baseball Defeats Wisconsin-Milwaukee 10-3
March 20, 2002
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – – The University of Miami (12-11) earned a mid week victory over visiting Wisconsin-Milwaukee (4-6), 10-3, in front of 1,369 fans Wednesday night at Mark Light Stadium.
In the game, Kevin Howard and Danny Matienzo continued career-long hitting streaks with 18 and 17, respectively. Javy Rodriguez (9), Kevin Mannix (7) and Brad Safchik (6) also extended their hit streaks entering the UCLA series.
UM starter Kiki Bengochea (2-4) scored the win after going 6.0 innings with five hits, two runs (one earned), three walks, five strikeouts, one wild pitch, one balk and one hit batter in 92 pitches. The five strikeouts were a season-high. UWM starter Quintin Oldenburg (1-1) went 4.0 innings with eight hits, six runs (five earned), two walks, two strikeouts, one wild pitch and one hit batter in 81 pitches.
The Panthers opened the scoring, 1-0, in the top of the first as lead off batter Adam Christ scored from third off a Bengochea wild pitch. Christ led off the game with a line drive single up the middle. He moved to second on a throwing error by Bengochea on a failed pick off attempt. Ben Beno moved Christ to third with a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher.
Miami tied the score, 1-1, in the bottom of the first on Matienzo’s line drive single to left field that scored Safchik from second. With one out, Safchik singled to left field then stole second.
The Hurricanes went ahead, 2-1, in the second inning as Mannix came in from third on a sacrifice bunt RBI from Joey Hooft. Mannix led off with a single up the middle, moved to second on a wild pitch and then to third on Jim Burt’s fly out to centerfield.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee came back in the third, 2-2, as Troy Doering scored from third on Dave Pudlosky’s RBI single to left field. Doering led off with a bunt, stole second and moved to third on Christ’s ground out to first base.
Miami went ahead, 4-2, in the bottom of the third on Matt Dryer’s two-out, two-RBI single to centerfield, scoring Matienzo and Howard. With two outs, Matienzo singled to center, stole second and moved to third on a throwing by the catcher. Howard walked and stole second.
The Hurricanes extended their lead, 6-2, in the fifth inning as Matienzo and Howard each had RBI’s. Rodriguez led off with a single to right field and moved to second on a walk to Safchik. Both runners moved over a base on a balk by UWM reliever Rob Erickson. Rodriguez then came in on Matienzo’s ground out to the shortstop with Safchik moving to third. He then scored on Howard’s grounder that Christ misplayed at shortstop.
UM continued to score in the sixth inning, 9-2, with three additional runs. Jim Burt and Hooft each drew walks. Both runners moved over on a sacrifice bunt by Danny Figueroa, who stayed at first on a throwing error by the catcher on the play. After Rodriguez flew out to right field, Erickson committed another balk to score Burt. Safchik knocked in Hooft with an infield single to second base. Figueroa scored the final run, coming in from third on an Erickson wild pitch.
Hooft extended UM’s lead to 10-2 in the seventh on a RBI single to left field scoring Richard Giannotti from second. Giannotti reached on a fielder’s choice grounder and stole second.
UWM’s Dan Kardlis led off the ninth with a solo home run to left center to bring the score to 10-3.
The Hurricanes return to action this weekend as the UCLA Bruins come to Mark Light Stadium for a three-game series beginning Saturday, March 23. The Hurricanes will face UCLA Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights with each game beginning at 7 p.m.
The first 2,500 fans in attendance for Saturday night’s series opener against UCLA will receive a limited edition Jim Morris National Championship Bobblehead Doll, sponsored by OleoMed.
All three games can be heard on the Internet at www.hurricanesports.com or on the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM. The Sunday night game will be televised by Fox Sports Net Florida, as well as heard on Sports Radio 560 WQAM and in Spanish at WACC 830 AM Radio Paz.
Log on to www.hurricanesports.com for updated news on the University of Miami athletics program, tickets and apparel. For ticket information call the Hurricane ticket box office at 1-800 GO CANES.
