Howard Leads Hurricanes Over No. 9 Georgia Tech 10-2
May 11, 2002
Atlanta, Ga. (www.hurricanesports.com) – – Miami (25-24) received record breaking offense from junior Kevin Howard in leading the Hurricanes to a 10-2 upset over No. 9 Georgia Tech (40-11) in front of 2,236 fans Saturday night at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Howard went 6-for-6 at the plate with eight RBI, 15 total bases, two home runs and three doubles. The six hits tied the school-record, while the 15 total bases are a new school-record. His eight RBI ties for third on the school list. All three figures are career records. The three doubles give him 62 for his career, three away from the school record. His two home runs give him 11 on the season 19 for his career. He also had three runs scored in the game.
Overall, the Hurricanes out hit the Yellow Jackets 18-8 in the game, including a 10-1 margin in RBI. Javy Rodriguez went 4-for-6 in the game with career-high four runs scored. Danny Matienzo hit his team-high 12th home run of the season in the eighth inning.
Miami starter Kiki Bengochea (4-6) pitched 5.0 innings for the win with five hits, two earned runs, six walks, four strikeouts and one hit batter. His Georgia Tech counterpart, Brian Burks (9-4), scored the loss with 5.1 innings with 10 hits, five earned runs, one walk and six strikeouts.
For the second straight night Miami opened the scoring, 1-0, in the first as Rodriguez came around from second on Howard’s two-out, full-count RBI single up the middle. A batter earlier, Rodriguez singled with a line drive to right center then stole second base.
In the third, Howard hit his first career grand slam to put the Hurricanes ahead, 5-0, in the game. Howard’s 10th home run of the season scored Danny Figueroa (single to centerfield), Brad Safchik (single to right field) and Javy Rodriguez (bunt single towards third base). It was UM’s fourth grand slam on the season.
The Yellow Jackets answered in the bottom of the third, 5-2, with two runs on two hits and two errors. Jeremy Slayden led off with a double down the right field line. Two UM errors on one play would allow him to score as Greg Dini’s throw to second went into the outfield and Danny Figueroa let the ball go underneath his glove. Two batters later Jason Perry lifted a Bengochea pitch over the right field wall for a solo home run.
Miami extended its lead, 6-2, in the seventh as Howard scored from third on Jim Burt’s sacrifice fly RBI to right field off reliever Philip Perry. Howard led off with a double to left center and took third on Matienzo’s ground out.
The Hurricanes continued to score on the Georgia Tech bullpen in the eighth, 9-2, with three runs on reliever Aaron Walker. With one out, Rodriguez doubled down the left field line. Howard followed with his second home run of the night to right field. Matienzo then hit a home run to left field, marking the first back-to-back home runs for UM since the 2002 opening weekend vs. Tennessee.
Howard made the score 10-2 in the ninth with a RBI double to right field to score Rodriguez from first. Rodriguez reached a batter earlier with a shot to centerfield.
The series concludes on Sunday at 1:30 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.
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 Hurricanes return to action next weekend, May 17-19, as Jacksonville travels to Mark Light Stadium for a three-game series beginning Friday. Game times for the Jacksonville series are 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. All three games can be heard over the Internet at www.hurricanesports.com or on the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM. Fox Sports Net Florida will televise the Sunday afternoon game. Sports Radio 560 WQAM will carry the Friday and Saturday games, while WACC 830 AM (Spanish) will broadcast on Saturday.
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.
