No. 9 Georgia Tech Rallies Past Miami 7-6
May 10, 2002
Atlanta, Ga. (www.hurricanesports.com) – – UM closer George Huguet (6-2) entered the ninth inning with Miami holding a 6-3 lead, but allowed the No. 9 Yellow Jackets (40-10) score four runs and rally past the Hurricanes (24-24), 7-6, in front of 1,209 fans Friday night at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Georgia Tech’s Philip Perry (3-0) earned the victory pitching the final 0.1 innings in the top of the ninth.The Yellow Jackets erased Miami’s 6-3 lead by scoring the four runs on four hits, two walks, an error and a hit by pitch in the ninth.
In the ninth, Huguet allowed lead off batter Brandon Boggs to single to left field. Matthew Boggs then doubled to right center to runners on second and third. Clifton Remole followed with a high-hopping grounder to third, but Kevin Howard’s throw to first drew Jim Burt off the base. Brandon Boggs scored on the play, while Garrett Groce came in to pinch run for Remole. Chris Patterson singled to left field to re-load the bases. The second run of the inning came in when Huguet hit Victor Menocal to force in a run. Jeremy Slayden then drew another walk to bring in tying run from third. Vince Vazquez then relieved Huguet and immediately allowed Matt Murton to single to right field scoring the winning run.
UM starter Dan Touchet wound up with the no-decision after 6.0 innings pitched, eight hits, three earned runs, one walk, three strikeouts and one hit batter. Touchet received valued assistance from the relievers J.D. Cockroft and Luke DeBold, who kept Georgia Tech off the scoreboard in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively.
Georgia Tech starter Kyle Bakker went 6.1 innings for a no-decision allowing seven hits, five runs (three earned), two walks, one strikeout, one balk and one hit batter. He was replaced with Jeff Watchko in the seventh after UM regained the lead 4-3.
Miami opened the scoring, 2-0, in the second scoring a pair of runs on four hits and an error. Richard Giannotti drove in the first run, Danny Matienzo from third, with a single to right field. Matienzo led off the inning with a double and took second on Burt’s single to shallow center. Giannotti later scored the second run off a sacrifice bunt from Paco Figueroa. Giannotti had moved to second on the tail end of his single when the right fielder threw Burt out at third. He advanced to third on a fielding error by the shortstop on a Greg Dini grounder.
Georgia Tech took the lead, 3-2, in the fourth scoring three runs on four hits. Murton led off with a single threw the left side then stole second. Jason Perry followed with an infield single to first base. Murton scored the first run on a sacrifice bunt from Tyler Parker. Brandon Boggs tied the score with his RBI double to left center scoring Perry. After Brandon Boggs moved to third on Matthew Boggs’ ground out, he came in on Remole’s RBI grounder to right field.
The Hurricanes came back to tie the score, 3-3, in the fifth on a RBI single from Brad Safchik to score Paco Figueroa from second. Paco Figueroa led off the inning getting hit by a Bakker pitch. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Danny Figueroa. Safchik followed with a shallow hit to left field that dropped between the outfielder and the third baseman.
Miami regained the lead, 6-3, in the seventh scoring three runs on three hits and two errors. Paco Figueroa drew a walk off Bakker to lead off the inning. For the second time in the game, he moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from his brother Danny Figueroa. Safchik followed with a RBI double down the left field line to score Paco Figueroa. Rodriguez reached on an infield single to the shortstop. Howard followed with a fielder’s choice grounder to the third baseman, forcing Safchik out at third. On the ensuing throw to first, Rodriguez raced from second to third, but an errant throw back to third allowed Howard to take second. Matienzo then drew a walk to load the bases. Two more runs would come in on Burt’s at bat as he hit a hard shot at the second baseman who allowed the ball to roll into the outfield, allowing Rodriguez and Howard to score unearned.
The series continues on Saturday at 7 p.m., with Sunday’s conclusion scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Both games can be heard over the Internet at www.hurricanesports.com or on the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM.
The Saturday night game will be televised, but not locally. The games can be seen on cable systems that carry Fox Sports South.
The Yellow Jackets are ranked No. 9 this week in the Baseball Weekly/ESPN Coaches Poll, No. 10 by the NCBWA, No. 11 by Collegiate Baseball newspaper and No. 12 by Baseball America.
The Atlanta chapter of the Hurricane Club will be hosting a social at Jock’s ‘N Jill’s Sports Bar on 10th Street between 4-6 p.m. on Saturday. Coach Morris will speak to the club from 4:15-4:45 p.m. There will be fan buses to and from the game from Jock’s ‘N Jill’s.
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.
