Burt's Two Home Runs the Difference in Miami's 6-4 Win
March 20, 2004
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The sixth-ranked Miami Hurricanes captured their 1,100 victory at Mark Light Field on Saturday night with a 6-4 win over Illinois-Chicago in front of 1,989 fans.
The Hurricanes improve to 18-4 on the season and have won three straight. The Flames fall to 7-6 on the season.
Freshman Ricky Orta (1-0), a Miami native and Florida Christian graduate, earned his first career win with two innings of work. He gave up two runs on two hits while striking out four. Freshman Chris Perez made his first career start for Miami, throwing 2.2 innings and allowing two runs on three hits.
George Huguet picked up his fifth save of the season and the 36th of his Hurricane career. He pitched one inning allowing only one hit while striking out two.
Jim Burt supplied the power at the plate with three hits – two home runs – and four RBI. Ryan Braun collected two hits and cracked his third home run of the season. Gaby Sanchez also went 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Jim Burt’s two-run home run in the fifth inning proved to be the difference as it sailed over the left-center field fence and gave the Hurricanes a 6-4 lead.
Miami jumped on top 2-0 with single tallies in the first and second inning. Burt started his night with an RBI double down the left-field line in the first inning. Singles from Erick San Pedro and Ryan Braun set up Gaby Sanchez’s RBI single in the second inning.
UIC tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the third inning with a two-RBI double off the bat of catcher Justin Johnson.
Burt led off the third inning with a solo home run to left field and Braun then followed in the fourth inning with a leadoff home run to right field. The solo shots increased UM’s lead to 4-2, which wouldn’t last long as the Flames struck back for two runs in the fifth inning on a two-run home run from Davie, Fla. native Bryan Russo.
The Hurricanes and Flames return to the diamond Sunday for a special 7 p.m. start time at Mark Light Field.
