Miami Slips Past Harvard, 10-9
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Jim Burt singled with the bases-loaded in 10th inning as 13th-ranked Miami pulled out a 10-9 win at the Papa John’s Homestead Challenge in front of 1,758 fans at the Homestead Sports Complex.
Matt Barket opened the 10th inning with a single and Brian Barton added a double off the left-center field wall before Burt’s game-winning hit. With the win, Miami improves its record to 20-4 on the season, while Harvard falls to 3-7.
George Huguet picked up his second win of the season with two innings of work. Alex Blanco led UM at the plate, going 4-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. It was the first four-hit game of his career.
Miami took a 2-1 lead in the third inning on a RBI single from the designated hitter Ryan Braun. Richard Giannotti came around to score after being hit in the knee by a pitch to lead off the inning.
Harvard came right back in the top of the fourth inning with a RBI double from Josh Klimkiewicz and a single from Lance Salsgiver. The Crimson added their second run of the inning on a ground out to the second baseman.
Miami collected four hits and scored two runs to retake the lead at 4-3. Braun highlighted the inning with a two-RBI single to right field. UM collected four hits in the inning.
Marcelo Albir came into pitch in the fifth inning a surrendered three runs on four hits. Schuyler Mann got the big hit with a two-RBI double of the left-center field wall to put the Crimson back on top 6-4. Shawn Valdes-Fauli came on to pitch and got the Hurricanes out of the jam with a pick off and a ground out to third base.
Gaby Sanchez led off the fifth inning with a double off the left-field wall. The double was his team-high 12th of the season and pulled UM within one at 6-5. Sanchez scored on a single from catcher Erick San Pedro.
Triples off the bat of Alex Blanco and Joey Hooft put UM back on top 7-6 in the fifth inning.
Harvard wouldn’t go away, as the Crimson went back on top, 7-6, in the seventh inning with a RBI single from Mann and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Klimkiewicz.
Catcher Erick San Pedro ripped the first triple of his career to spark two-run rally in the seventh inning to put the Hurricanes back on top, 9-8.
The Hurricanes will return to action with a three-game series against second-ranked Georgia Tech on Friday, March 28, at Mark Light Stadium. The game is set for a 7 p.m. first pitch.
