Campbell Hangs First Loss on Hurricanes, 12-9
Feb. 8, 2003
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Miami baseball team dropped its first game of the season Saturday night at Mark Light Field, 12-9, to Campbell in front of 3,102 fans.
Campbell rallied in the top of the ninth inning for two runs to tie the game at 7-7 and send it into extra innings. After a 1-2-3 bottom half of the ninth inning for UM, Campbell exploded for five runs off freshman reliever Tom King (0-1) and Andrew Cohn to take a 12-7 lead.
Miami fought back for two runs in the 10th inning, but it wasn’t enough as Brian Barton flew out to right field with the bases loaded to end the game.
The Hurricanes mounted their first comeback trailing 4-0 in the sixth inning. UM put a six spot on the scoreboard to take a two-run lead. Paco Rigueroa drew a walk to lead off the sixth inning. His twin brother Danny followed with a lined single to center field. Campbell starter Matt Kleweno issued his second walk of the inning, which brought on a pitching change by Campbell. The Fighting Camels brought in right-hander Josh Blades, who promptly gave up a RBI single to Gaby Sanchez.
After a Jim Burt strikeout, Ryan Braun and Tom Shannon drew back-to-back walks. Shannon picked up the first RBI of his career, scoring Ricks. Catcher Erick San Pedro then delivered a two-out double into the left-center field gap, scoring three runs and putting UM on top.
Campbell answered the UM rally, as CU’s Tom Rispoli hit a solo home run off Miami reliever Shawn Valdes-Fauli to open the seventh inning and close the UM lead to 6-5.
The Hurricanes extended their lead to 7-5 in the seventh inning, as Jim Burt delivered a sacrifice fly to score Danny Figureoa.
UM starting pitcher Ryan Dixon recorded the first two outs of the game before surrendering four straight hits. He then hit a batter, issued a walk and uncorked a wild pitch to stake Campbell to a 3-0 lead.
Campbell tacked on its fourth run of the night in the third inning, chasing Dixon, who gave up four runs and six hits in 2.2 of an inning.
Miami will return to the diamond Friday, Feb. 14, in Gainesville, Fla., to take on the Florida Gators at 6:30 p.m. The series will continue on Saturday with a 2 p.m. game and on Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest.
For more information on tickets call 1-800-GO-CANES and for information on UM athletics visit the University’s official web site at www.hurricanesports.com
