Baseball Earns Crucial Win Over New York Tech 4-2
May 25, 2002
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – – The University of Miami baseball team (29-26) clinched its weekend series with visiting New York Tech (27-24) with a 4-2 victory Saturday night in front of 2,117 fans at Mark Light Stadium.
Miami jumped out to a 2-0 lead going into the sixth, when New York Tech scored its first run. The Bears would go onto to tie the game in the top of the seventh before UM responded with a run in each of the seventh and eighth innings for the eventual 4-2 decision.
The Hurricanes also won the series opener by a score of 16-1 on Friday night.
UM reliever J.D. Cockroft (5-0) scored the win in relief with 1.1 innings of work. Luke DeBold scored his first save of the season closing out the ninth inning for the Hurricanes. New York Tech reliever Ed Gillespie (2-2) took the loss.
Both starters in the game took no-decisions in their outings as UM starter Kiki Bengochea went 6.1 innings with six hits, two runs (one earned), three walks, six strikeouts and one wild pitch in 122 pitches thrown. His counterpart, NYIT starter Brandon Kurz, pitched 5.1 innings with six hits, two runs (one earned), four walks, one strikeout and one wild pitch in 95 pitches thrown.
Kevin Howard had the game’s first RBI, in the first inning, as he knocked in Brad Safchik from second with a single to right center for the early 1-0 lead. Safchik had reached on a fielding error by the pitcher and moved to second on Javy Rodriguez’ ground out.
Danny Figueroa knocked in Miami’s second run in the fourth inning, 2-0, with a single to right field that scored Matt Dry from second. Dryer earlier singled to left field and stole second.
The Bears got onto the scoreboard, 2-1, in the sixth on Brian Goldberg’s RBI double to left field scoring Mike Gaffney. Gaffney earlier singled to left field.
New York Tech tied the game, 2-2, in the seventh on Vince Galea’s RBI fielder’s choice ground out to to first base that scored Kevi n Perrucci from third. With one out, Perrucci singled to right center. On Andrew Karkoulas’ walk UM catcher Greg Dini attempted to throw out Perrucci at second and overthrew into the outfield to put the runner at third.
Miami regained the lead, 3-2, in the bottom of the seventh on Howard’s RBI ground out to first base that brought in Safchik from third, unearned. Safchik led off the seventh with a walk. He moved over two bases on an errant throw by a Gillespie on a failed pick off attempt.
UM added another run, 4-2, in the eighth on Danny Figueroa’s RBI single to centerfield that scored Dryer from third. With one out, Dryer singled to third base. He stole second, in his second steal on the night, and moved to third on Dini’s fly out to left field.
Miami and New York Tech Conclude the series on Sunday at 12 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 Second Annual Autograph Day will be held on Sunday, May 26th after the conclusion of the regular season finale vs. New York Tech. Players will be stationed throughout Mark Light Stadium for pictures and autographs.
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.
