Hurricanes Sweep Savannah State with 11-3 win
May 18, 2003
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – The University of Miami baseball team defeated Savannah State 11-3, completing the four-game series sweep of the Tigers in its final home game of the season in front of 1,085 fans Sunday afternoon at Mark Light Field.
Miami improves its record to 37-13-1, while Savannah State drops to 34-15 on the season.
Hurricane starter Alex Perez (2-2) recorded the win with his best outing of the season going 8.0 innings giving up seven hits, three runs (two earned), while striking out five batters.
Freshman Ryan Braun led the way offensively for the Hurricanes going 2-for-4 at the plate, with two runs scored and three RBI. Additionally, Braun received several team awards including Home Run Champion, Rookie of the Year and Team MVP.
First baseman Jim Burt was awarded the Arnold Novins Memorial Award for most popular player, while Cockroft received the Ron Fraser Award for top hurler on the staff and the Bob Werner award for the player who most exemplified the qualities of a winner.
Savannah State grabbed the lead in the first inning, 1-0, on a solo home run to left center by first baseman Clay Cleveland.
The Hurricanes answered in the bottom half of the inning tying the game on an RBI double down the left field line scoring Adam Ricks.
The Tigers re-took the lead in the second, 2-1 on a sacrifice fly by William Holly scoring Rafel Blanco, who reached on a fielding error by Paco Figueroa.
Miami tied the game in the third on Ryan Braun’s fielder’s choice RBI scoring Danny Figueroa from third. Figueroa led off the inning with a single and moved to third on a stolen base and a throwing error by the catcher.
Ryan Braun recorded his team-best 63rd RBI of the season with a triple into the right center field gap scoring Ricks from second, giving Miami a 4-3 lead. Braun would give Miami a two-run lead scoring on a sacrifice fly by Brian Barton.
The Tigers cut the lead, 4-3, in the sixth on a single by T.J. Lonnon scoring Jeffrey Urgelles. Urgelles doubled into right center to reach base.
The Hurricanes extended their lead to 5-3, in the sixth inning, when Paco Figueroa scored from second on Danny Figueroa’s second triple of the season. Paco Figueroa reached first base on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on an error by the second baseman.
Brian Barton’s three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh scored Ryan Braun and Jim Burt to increase Miami’s lead, 8-3. Braun reached base on a fielder’s choice and stole second, his 11th stolen base of the season.
In the bottom of the eighth, pinch hitter Richard Gianotti led off with a home run to left center. Pinch hitter Matt Barkett had a two-run home run scoring Paco Figueroa to extend the Hurricane’s lead, 11-3.
The Hurricanes are back in action to face Long Beach State Thursday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. in Long Beach, Calif.
