Seven-Run Seventh Inning Helps Hurricanes Race Past Maine, 9-3
March 4, 2004
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami baseball team ran its way past Maine, 9-3, Thursday night in front of 1,423 fans at Mark Light Field with eight stolen bases and an 11-hit attack.
The Hurricanes took the lead for the first time in the seventh inning with seven runs. The inning was highlighted by RBI singles from Joey Hooft and Jon Jay along with a bases clearing triple from Brian Barton.
Miami’s aggressive running on the base paths led to eight stolen bases, the most for the Hurricanes since stealing 10 bases against Clemson in Super Regional play on June 2, 2001. Paco Figueroa led the way with three stolen bases, making him 10-for-10 on the season. Hooft added two steals on the night.
“It was a good win, but we made some mistakes early,” Miami head coach Jim Morris said. (Mike) MacDonald pitched very well for Maine tonight, but we helped him out as well.”
Shawn Valdes-Fauli earned the win with one flawless inning in on the mound. It was Valdes-Fauli’s first appearance of the season after carrying the Hurricanes through the postseason in 2003. Vince Bongiovanni started for UM and pitched six innings, allowing three runs on four.
The win improves the sixth ranked Hurricanes to 8-3 on the season, while Maine falls to 2-3.
Miami fell behind early as the Black Bears posted a two-run second inning. A leadoff walk issued to Mike Ferriggi would come around to score on a double by Aaron Izaryk. Maine’s second run came on an RBI ground out from Jason Harvey that scored Izaryk.
The Hurricanes would fight back with a run in the third inning to pull within 2-1. Paco Figueroa led off with a single to center field. Figueroa would then steal second and third base before scoring on a wild pitch by Mike MacDonald.
Jim Burt doubled down the left field line to score Ryan Braun with two outs in the fifth inning to tie the game at 2-2.
Maine took a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning on a solo home run off the bat Greg Creek. The pitch was the 100th of the night for UM’s Bongiovanni.
The Hurricanes return to the diamond on Friday, March 5, against the Elon Phoenix at 7 p.m. at Mark Light Field.
