Hurricanes Open Season With 12-7 Win Over FIU
Feb. 5, 2003
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami baseball team opened its regular season with a 12-7 victory over cross-town rival Florida International Wednesday at Mark Light Field.
The Hurricanes (14/NR/20) improved to 1-0 on the season, while FIU fell to 5-1. Transfer Adam Ricks led Miami offensively with two hits, including a home run and five RBI. Brian Barton added three hits in his UM debut, while driving in two runs. Five Hurricanes collected at least two hits in the contest.
UM rallied in the bottom of the sixth with six runs after falling behind in the top half of the inning to put the game on ice. Erick San Pedro and both Danny and Paco Figueroa brothers loaded the bases before Ricks slapped a two-run single to put the Hurricanes back on top.
Third baseman Gaby Sanchez followed with a RBI single to left field, giving UM a 9-7 lead with no outs. With runners on second and third, Greg Dini looped a two-RBI double into left center field. Dini was granted an additional base following a FIU balk and promptly scored when Barton singled between second and short.
FIU cut the lead, 6-3, in the sixth as Fernando Alvarez launched a solo home run over the right field wall. Then, with two outs, Luis Rivera scored Skipton Adams on a single. The Golden Panthers finally took their first lead of the game when first baseman Bryan Pullin hit a three-run double to take a 7-6 edge over the host team.
Danny Figueroa opened the game with a base hit and then advanced on to second courtesy of a balk. Jim Burt stroked a line drive double to left field, and Brian Barton scored him on a long looping double to right.
With two outs in the bottom of the second inning, designated hitter Adam Ricks ripped a line drive over the right fielder’s head. The ball stuck in the bottom of the fencing, but FIU right fielder Solomon Frieder retrieved the ball before the umpire ruled on the play, as Ricks rounded the bases for an inside the park home run. It was the first hit of his Hurricane career. The home run increased the UM lead to 4-0.
With Ricardo Nanita already on first, Golden Panther DH Fernando Alvarez hit a line drive to right field. Hurricane pitcher Dan Touchet buckled down on the next two batters, throwing two strikeouts, but Michael New was able to line a single to left field, scoring both runners and halving UM’s lead.
The Hurricanes were quick to retaliate however. With one out and Paco Figueroa on first, Danny Figueroa hit a single into center field. Both base runners promptly advanced on an error. Ricks reached on a error that allowed the Figueroa brothers to score, giving the host Hurricanes a 6-2 lead.
With the commanding 12-7 lead, the Hurricanes cruised through the final three innings, sealing the season-opening victory behind the strong pitching of J.D. Cockroft. Cockroft picked up the win with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief..UM returns to action Thursday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. at Mark Light Field in the first of a three-game set with Campbell.
