Ninth-Inning Single Lifts Marlins Past Hurricanes, 7-6
March 3, 2004
JUPITER, Fla. – A ninth-inning RBI single by the designated hitter Felipe Crespo gave the Florida Marlins a 7-6 win over the sixth-ranked Miami Hurricanes in front of 3,287 fans at Roger Dean Stadium.
Redshirt freshman Jon Allen took the loss after taking over on the mound for Miami in the ninth inning.
The Hurricanes mounted a furious rally in the seventh inning, scoring five runs to tie the score at 6-6. Ryan Braun’s two-run home run with two outs was the inning’s big blow, but UM also got a two-RBI single from Roger Tomas and a RBI single from Adam Ricks.
In all, the Hurricanes rocked Marlins’ reliever Delvin James for five runs (all earned) on five hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Jon Jay would preserve the 6-6 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning with a diving catch at the left-field warning track with a runner at second and two outs. Ricky Orta would get the Hurricanes out of a base-loaded jam in the eight inning with a strikeout of Major League veteran Gerald Williams, who is more than 18 years Orta’s senior.
Damion Easley broke the game open for the Marlins in the second inning with a two-out two-run home run down the left-field line. The Marlins scored four in all in the second inning with the help of two Alex Blanco walks.
The Marlins tallied a single run in the first innings after UM starter J.D. Cockroft struck out Luis Castillo, but a passed ball by catcher Erick San Pedro allowed Castillo to reach first base. The passed ball would prove to be costly, as Castillo would come around to score on a Mike Lowell sacrifice fly to center field.
Miami cracked into the scoring column in the third inning on a RBI single off the bat of Joey Hooft. Richard Giannotti would come around to score from second on the play after drawing a walk.
Florida added an unearned run in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Hee-Seop Choi for a 6-1 Marlins lead.
Jim Burt would lead the Hurricanes with two hits.
The Hurricanes return home on Thursday for a 7 p.m. contest with the University of Maine Black Bears. UM will then welcome Elon to Mark Light Field for a three-game series beginning Friday at 7 p.m. The series will continue at 4 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
