Baseball Rally Falls Short In 11-8 Loss to Elon
March 30, 2002
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – – The Miami Hurricanes (16-13) dropped their second straight game to visiting Elon (20-4-1), 11-8, in front of 1,747 fans Saturday night at Mark Light Stadium.
By way of wins in the first two games, Elon wins the three-game series with the Miami, marking the third time this season Miami has dropped a three-game series at home. The last time Miami was swept at home in a three-game series was to Cal State Fulleton in 2001.
Elon did most of its damage in the first inning scoring five runs on UM starter T.J. Prunty (4-1) then four more in the fourth inning. Prunty garnered his first loss of the season pitching 3.2 innings with seven hits, nine runs (eight earned), two walks, two strikeouts, one wild pitch and one hit batter in 79 pitches.
Elon starter Tyson Blocker (5-1) earned the win on the mound for the Phoenix going 7.0 innings with nine hits, six earned runs, one walk and two strikeouts in 114 pitches.
Elon started strong batting around in the order and scoring five runs in the top of the first inning on Prunty. Jason Tuttle led off with a single to the shortstop and advanced to second on Javy Rodriguez’ errant throw. Gary Morris was then hit by a Prunty pitch. Brian Ingram followed with a walk to load the bases. Whit Bryant knocked in the first two runs with a single to right field. He would take second on the throw with Ingram moving to third. Jim Swensen grounded out to second base with Ingram scoring on the play and Bryant going to third. Taylor Stewart doubled to the gap in right center to score Bryant. Morgan Frazier grounded out to second base with Stewart going to third on the play. Barry Tejeda drove in the final run of the inning with a single to right field.
Miami scored once in the first, 5-1, on Kevin Howard’s double to left field that scored Rodriguez from second. Rodriguez earlier doubled down the left field line.
Elon knocked Prunty off the mound in the fourth as the Phoenix added four more runs for a 9-1 lead. Tejeda led off with a single to left field. Ross Cook followed with a strikeout. Tejeda was then forced out at second as Tuttle reached on a fielder’s choice. Tuttle stole second as Morris drew a walk. Ingram drove in the first run, Tuttle, with a single to right field with Morris going to third. Prunty threw a wild pitch to allow Morris to score and Ingram to go to second. Bryant doubled deep to centerfield to score Ingram. UM reliever Ryan Dixon then entered the game for Prunty. UM’s Rodriguez committed his second error of the game on Swensen’s grounder that allowed Bryant to score the fourth run of the inning.
Miami scored once in the fourth, 9-2, as Matt Dryer scored from third on Joey Hooft’s fielder’s choice grounder to third base. Dryer earlier reached on a double and moved to third on Matt Barket’s single to right field.
Elon pinch hitter Ricky Callison put the Phoenix ahead, 10-2, with a solo home run to left field in the fifth.
Howard scored from third in the sixth, 10-3, off a Burt sacrifice fly to centerfield. Howard reached on a double to left center and moved to third on Matt Dryer’s fly out.
Elon added one more run in the eighth, 11-3, when Ingram scored on a Stewart ground out.
The Hurricanes made the game interesting in the eighth, scoring five runs to narrow the Elon lead to 11-8. Erick San Pedro led off with a single to left field. Alex Blanco followed with a single to right center. Both runners then scored on Richard Giannotti’s triple to right field. Giannotti would score on Greg Dini’s RBI ground out to the shortstop. Matt Barket followed with his first career home run to left field. Paco Figueroa singled past the third baseman and moved to second on a bunt ground out from Danny Figueroa. Paco Figueroa scored on Safchik’s RBI single up the middle.
Miami and Elon conclude the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game can be heard on the Internet at www.hurricanesports.com or on the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM.
Saturday night’s game featured 2002 Olympic Medal winner Jennifer Rodriguez throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Rodriguez, a speedskater, won two Medals at the recent Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City and is a Miami resident.
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 box office at 1-800 GO CANES.
