Baseball Bounces Back With 4-3 Win Over No. 9 North Carolina
April 27, 2002
Chapel Hill, N.C. (www.hurricanesports.com) – – The Miami Hurricanes (22-20) evened the weekend series with No. 9 North Carolina (31-15), 4-3, scoring the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning in front of 2,257 fans Saturday night at Cary C. Boshamer Stadium.
The fifth lead change of the game resulted in Brad Safchik’s RBI single to left field bringing Paco Figueroa in all the way from second base. Figueroa had led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from identical twin, Danny Figueroa. On the eventual game winning hit from Safchik, UM Head Coach Jim Morris waved Paco Figueroa in past third beating the throw at home plate from left field.
Closer George Huguet (6-1) scored the win pitching the final 2.0 innings with one hit, one walk and one strikeout. Huguet entered the game for Kiki Bengochea in the eighth after the starter put runners on first and third with a walk and a single.
Tar Heel reliever Kevin Brower (3-1) scored the loss pitching 1.2 innings with three hits, two runs (one earned), three walks and one strikeout.
In the UNC eighth, the Tar Heels tied the score at 3-3 when Chris Maples hit an RBI single to left field to score Russ Adams from third. Adams led off with a walk from Bengochea and moved to third on Sean Farrell’s single to right center.
Bengochea went 7.0 innings in the outing with six hits, three earned runs, four walks and five strikeouts. UNC starter Daniel Moore went 7.1 innings allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts. He was replaced in the eighth with Brower after allowing a walk and a sacrifice bunt.
The Hurricanes jumped ahead of the Tar Heels in the top of the eighth, 3-2, on Matt Dryer’s bases-loaded two-RBI single to centerfield off Brower. Dryer’s single brought in Danny Figueroa and Javy Rodriguez. Danny Figueroa led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Safchik. Rodriguez then reached on a fielding error by the first baseman. After Danny Matienzo struck out, UNC intentionally walked Kevin Howard to load the bases for Dryer.
UNC took the lead in the eighth, 2-1, on Chris Iannetta’s two-out home run off Bengochea to right field.
North Carolina tied the game, 1-1, in the sixth on Maples RBI double down the left field line to score Adam Greenberg from second. With one out, Greenberg reached on infield single to second base. Adams then recorded the second out on a fly to left field. After Greenberg stole second, Farrell walked. Maples then came up with his two-out line drive down the left field line.
Miami opened the scoring in the third inning, 1-0, on two hits, including Rodriguez’ RBI single to centerfield. Greg Dini led off with a walk. Paco Figueroa then was ruled out on his bunt attempt due to interference. Danny Figueroa followed with a single off the pitcher to put runners on first and second. After Safchik was struck out, Rodriguez came up with a single to centerfield to score Dini.
The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m. The game can be heard over the Internet at www.hurricanesports.com or on the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM.
Miami returns to action on Thursday, May 2 against the Florida International Golden Panthers at Mark Light Stadium. The Hurricanes will then face Bethune-Cookman for a three-game series at Mark Light Stadium, May 3-5.
For more information on University of Miami athletics log on to its newly designed website www.hurricanesports.com, the official site for all Hurricane news, tickets and apparel. For Hurricane ticket information call 1-800-GO CANES.
