Virginia Handles Hurricanes, 17-2
April 13, 2003
CHARLOETTESVILLE, Va. (hurricanesports.com) – Virginia took advantage of four Miami errors and 12 walks by Hurricanes’ pitching to salvage the final game of the three-game series, 17-2, in front of 1,358 fans at Davenport Field.
The game was called after seven innings after reaching the 3:40 p.m. curfew to allow Miami to make its flight out of Richmond.
The Hurricanes fall to 27-7 on the season headed into their Wednesday, April 16, game at Florida International at 7 p.m. Virginia improves to 21-12 with Joe Koshansky improving his record on the mound to 5-0.
Alex Perez, a junior college All-American out of Bookdale Community College in New Jersey, took the loss (0-1) in his first career start. Perez filled out the Hurricanes’ rotation that was without No. 2-starter Vince Bongiovanni who didn’t make the trip with a forearm strain. Perez went three innings, allowing four runs on six hits before being relieved by Marcelo Albir, who failed to get an out in the fourth inning.
Virginia jumped on top early with a RBI double of the bat of Cavaliers’ shortstop Mark Reynolds and a RBI single from pitcher/designated hitter Joe Koshansky.
UVA tacked on another run in the second inning to take a 3-0 lead on an RBI single by second baseman Kyle Werman to score Chris Sweet. Sweet had stolen second base one batter earlier with the help of eight-hole hitter Scott Headd, who stepped in front of UM catcher Erick San Pedro and prevented him from throwing to second base. Miami skipper Jim Morris argued the call to no avail.
UM got on the scoreboard with a swinging bunt by Joey Hooft that scored Ryan Braun who had reached on a past ball by the UVA catcher Headd after a strikeout. Braun advanced to third on a double San Pedro down the right-field line.
The wheels fell off for the Hurricanes in the fourth inning, giving up five runs on two errors and five walks, as the Cavaliers sent 11 batters to the plate to take a 8-1 lead. Albir was responsible for four runs with one run charged to Chiqui Chirino, who walked two batters in. Shawn Valdes-Fauli came in to retire the side for the Hurricanes.
Miami got one run back in the fifth inning with a RBI single by Ryan Braun.
Virginia took a 17-2 lead in the sixth inning on seven hits and an error, highlighted by two-RBI doubles from Mark Reynolds and Ryan Zimmerman.
Second-ranked Florida State ventures to Mark Light Field next Friday, Saturday and Sunday for a three-game series that begins at 7 p.m. on Friday.
