Hurricanes Clinch Series Over No. 2 Georgia Tech with a 13-8 win
March 29, 2003
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (hurricanesports.com) – The University of Miami’s No. 13 baseball team clinched the three-game series with No. 2 Georgia Tech, defeating the Yellow Jackets 13-8 in front of 4,153 fans Saturday night at Mark Light Field.
The Hurricanes scored ten runs over the first four innings and never looked back, cruising to their seventh straight win. Richard Giannotti led the offense for Miami going 2-for-3 at the plate, scoring one run and two RBI.
Miami improves its 2003 overall record to 22-4, while Georgia Tech drops to 21-4.
Starting pitcher Vince Bongiovanni (5-1) recorded the win for the Hurricanes going 6.0 innings, giving up six hits, five runs (four earned), three walks, while striking out eight batters. George Huguet pitched 1.2 inning to pick up his fourth save of the season.
The Hurricanes got on the scoreboard, 3-1, in the bottom half of the first on a sacrifice hit by Brian Barton scoring Richard Giannotti from third. Giannotti reached first on an infield single, moved to second on a walked and advanced to third on a double to steal.
Miami took the lead in the second inning, 4-3, scoring three runs on one hit and two errors. A line drive double into the left-center gap by Erick San Pedro scoring Jim Burt cut the lead, 3-1. The double extended San Pedro’s hitting streak to eight games. After walks to Adam Ricks and Danny Figueroa, an error by the pitcher allowed San Pedro and Giannotti to score.
The Hurricanes knocked in four more runs in the third inning highlighted by a two-run home run by Paco Figueroa scoring Ricks from second. It was the third home run of the season for the Hurricane shortstop.
Second baseman Eric Patterson led off the game with a double just out of the reach of a diving centerfielder Danny Figueroa. Patterson moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Brandon Boggs. Matt Murton then reached on an error by Ryan Braun at third base.
Georgia Tech scored its first run of the game on an infield hit by Clifton Remole and then got a two-RBI double down the third base line from Mike Nickeas.
The Yellow Jackets cut the lead in the fourth inning, 8-4, on a run scored on a balk charged to Bongiovanni. Tyler Greene led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on a base hit to left field by Jake Hall.
Miami extended its lead 10-4 in the bottom of the fourth scoring, two runs on one hit and no errors. Gaby Sanchez led off the inning with a walk, stole second base and scored on an RBI single by Burt. Giannotti was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and two outs which, allowed Burt to score from third.
Georgia Tech narrowed the gap in the seventh inning, 10-7, on Brandon Bogg’s two-run home run off Hurricanes’ reliever Chiqui Chirino. Shawn Valdes-Fauli relieved Chirino to record the final out of the inning.
The Hurricanes extended their lead back to five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on a two-run two-out double from designated hitter Gaby Sanchez. The double was his team-high 13th of the season.
The Yellow Jackets knocked in another run off of closer George Huguet, 13-8, in the ninth inning but fell short.
The Hurricanes are back in action against Georgia Tech Sunday, March 30 at 1 p.m. at Mark Light Field on the UM campus. The game will be televised live by Fox Sports Net Florida.
