Miami Defeats Bethune-Cookman, 10-5, in the first round of the Coral Gables Regional
May 30, 2003
Coral Gables, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes defeated the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, 10-5, to advance to the winner’s bracket of the Coral Gables Regional in NCAA Baseball Tournament action Friday night at Mark Light Field. Miami (40-14-1) will face Florida Atlantic (47-14) Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time. B-CC (30-27) meets Florida (34-20) at Noon Saturday in an elimination game.
Starting pitcher Vince Bongiovanni (7-4) got the win for Miami, working six innings and allowing two runs (both earned) on seven hits, striking out two and walking one. B-CC starter John Gragg was the tough-luck loser, going the distance in a gutsy performance. He allowed 10 runs (seven earned) on 11 hits, striking out four and walking three. Gragg also went 3-for-5 at the plate for the Wildcats with a solo home run.
Miami was led offensively by Ryan Braun, who had a career-high four hits while knocking in three runs, including a home run and a double.
Miami opened the scoring in the third, taking a 2-0 lead. With one out, Danny Figueroa walked then stole second. He scored when Ryan Braun homered to right field, his 15th home run of the season. B-CC struck back with a single run in the fourth. Starting pitcher John Gragg started the inning with a single to center, then stole second base. He advanced to third on a groundout by Roberto Rodriguez and scored on a single to right by Juan Figueroa. B-CC tied the game in the sixth when Figueroa clubbed a towering home run atop the parking garage in right field.
Miami responded with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Jim Burt started the inning with a double down the left field line and scored when Brian Barton reached on a throwing error off a bunt. Burt scored on the error after moving to third on the bunt. Gabby Sanchez reached when he was hit by a pitch. With Sanchez at second and Barton on third, Eric San Pedro doubled to left center to score Sanchez and Barton to give Miami a 5-2 lead.
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Vince Bongiovanni throws out the opening pitch against Bethune-Cookman. |
The Hurricanes extended the lead to 7-2 with a pair of runs in the seventh. Danny Figueroa led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Adam Ricks. Ryan Braun reached on an error, scoring Figueroa, and advanced to third when Jim Burt doubled to left center. Brian Barton was hit by a pitch. Gabby Sanchez then reached base via a fielder’s choice during which Barton was thrown out at third, but Burt moved to third and scored on an error on the play for the five-run lead for Miami.
B-CC struck back in the top of the eight with three runs. Gragg started the inning with a home run to right center. Rodriguez walked and advanced to third on a double by Figueroa and scored on a groundout by Emanuel Moreno. A single by Jon Lee scored Figueroa to cut the Miami lead to 7-5. UM regained some insurance in the bottom of the eight, scoring three runs on four hits. Hooft led off with a double to right and moved to third on a ground out by Paco Figueroa and scored on a single by Danny Figueroa. A single to center by Ricks plated Danny Figueroa. A double to left center by Braun scored Ricks for a 10-5 Miami lead.
