Baseball Falls 17-11 To No. 8 Florida State
April 14, 2002
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – No. 8 Florida State (34-12) defeated Miami (18-18), 17-11, sweeping the three-game series in front of 2,396 fans Sunday afternoon at Mark Light Stadium.
Hurricane starter Kiki Bengochea (2-5) earned the loss going 4 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits, 10 runs (eight earned), three walks, two strikeouts and three hit batters. Seminole starter Marc LaMacchia (6-1) recorded the win, going 6 innings, giving up 12 hits, six earned runs, no walks, five strikeouts, one balk and a hit batter.
Florida State erased an early 1-0 Miami lead in the second inning scoring two runs on an error by the pitcher. Hurricane pitcher Kiki Bengochea gave up two consecutive singles, before botching a throw, allowing Tony McQuade and Blair McCaleb to score, giving the Seminoles a 2-1 lead.
The Hurricanes tied the game, 2-2, in the bottom half of the second on Paco Figueroa’s solo homerun to left field. It was Figueroa’s first career homerun as a Hurricane.
The Seminoles took a four-run lead, 6-2, in the third inning on a Jerrod Brown grand slam to left field and never looked back. Ryan Barthelemy reached first on a walk and advanced to second on an error by the second baseman. The Seminoles loaded the bases on a walk by McCaleb.
Miami cut the lead, 6-4, in the fourth inning on a two-run double by Brad Safchik, before Florida State opened the game in the fifth, 13-4. FSU scored seven runs, including its second grand slam of the day by Stephen Drew off of relief pitcher Luke DeBold.
Miami staged a late comeback scoring two runs in the fifth, four in the seventh and one in the ninth, highlighted by Javy Rodriguez’ second homerun of the game. However, the Seminoles added four runs in the eighth sealing the 17-11 win.
Miami returns to action next weekend as Long Beach State comes to Mark Light Stadium for a three-game series beginning Friday. Game times are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. Fox Sports Net Florida will televise Saturday night’s game on tape delay at 10 p.m. UM’s Spanish Broadcast Network on WACC 830 AM Radio Paz will also carry the Saturday contest.
For more information on Miami Hurricanes news, tickets and apparel log on to the official athletics website of the University of Miami at www.hurricanesports.com. For ticket information call 1-800 GO CANES.
