Hurricanes Handle Elon, 6-3
March 5, 2004
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami baseball team won its fifth straight game on Friday night with a 6-3 victory over Elon University at Mark Light Field in front of 2,402 fans.
The Hurricanes took their first lead of the night in the seventh inning on a passed ball by Elon catcher Matt Stocco. Danny Figueroa would come around to score on the play for the Hurricanes after pinch running for Brendan Katin after he drew a walk to lead off the inning.
It was the first action of the season for Figueroa, who underwent ‘Tommy John’ surgery last fall. It wouldn’t take the junior long to make an impact with a quick swipe of second base, his first of the season after stealing 40 last season.
The Hurricanes would tack on two insurance runs in the eighth inning on a RBI ground out by Gaby Sanchez and a RBI double by Adam Ricks.
UM improves to 9-3 on the season with its fifth straight win, while the Phoenix fall to 6-7 on the year.
Shawn Valdes-Fauli earned the win for Miami for the second consecutive night. He pitched 1.1 innings, allowing only one hit while striking out two. Cesar Carrillo made the first start of his UM career, lasting four inning and giving up two runs on four hits, while striking out six.
George Huget came on in the ninth inning to earn his first save of the season. The save was the 32nd of his career in his 110th career appearance. Both marks are the third most in school history.
Adam Acosta took the loss for Elon allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and walking five.
Elon jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a RBI double by designated hitter Chris Price in the first inning, scoring Evan Tartaglia who had drawn walk to lead off the game. Price was singled home by Tyler Davis for the Phoenix’s second run.
Miami came back with a single tally in the bottom half of the first inning on a RBI single by Gaby Sanchez. The single scored Ryan Braun who had walked earlier in the inning.
Elon extended the lead to 3-1 with another RBI off the bat of Price with a single in the fifth inning.
Erick San Pedro blasted his team-high sixth home run of the season to lead off the bottom half of the fifth inning. Brian Barton followed with a double into the left-center field gap. Barton moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jon Jay and scored on a sacrifice fly by Paco Figueroa.
The Hurricanes and Phoenix will play game two of the three game series at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 6, at Mark Light Field.
