Virginia's Two-Run Ninth Inning Beats Hurricanes, 4-3
April 25, 2004
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Left-handed pitcher Joe Koshansky helped 15th-ranked Virginia salvage a 4-3 win from its three-game series with fourth-ranked Miami Sunday afternoon at Mark Light Field in front of 1,374 fans.
The Cavaliers got RBI singles from Tom Hagan and Matt Street in the top of the ninth inning to pull out the win and improve to 35-9 on the season.
George Huguet (0-1) took the loss for the Hurricanes, allowing his first earned run of the season. He pitched 2.1 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits. Hagan’s RBI single represented the first earned run allowed by Huguet this season, covering 22.1 innings. The appearance was Huguet’s 123rd of his career, tying Danny Smith for Miami’s all-time total appearances record.
The Hurricanes fall to 30-9 on the season and lose for the first time this season when leading after eight innings. Brian Barton and Gaby Sanchez led the UM offense with two hits and one RBI apiece.
Koshansky (7-1) threw his first complete game of the season and allowed only three runs on eight hits, while throwing 107 pitches and striking out six.
Brandon Camardese earned a no decision with 6.1 innings of work. The left-hander allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and stuck out six.
Virginia’s offense was led by Hagan and Mark Reynolds, who both picked up two hits in UVa’s eight-hit attack.
Adam Ricks dropped a RBI single into right field with two outs to score Joey Hooft from second base and put the Hurricanes back on top, 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning. Hooft led off the inning with a bunt single and moved up to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Roger Tomas.
Sanchez staked the Hurricanes to a 1-0 lead with a RBI single to center field in the first inning. The single scored Jim Burt who had drawn a walk earlier in the inning.
With two outs in the third inning, Jim Burt ripped a double down the left-field line for his team-leading 17th double of the season. Barton followed with a RBI single up the middle to give UM a 2-0 lead.
Virginia’s nine-hole hitter, Hagan, cashed in on a Roger Tomas error in the fifth inning with a RBI single to left field as the Cavaliers closed the Hurricanes’ lead to 2-1.
The Cavaliers opened the seventh inning with a single to left field by Scott Headd and a bunt double by Werman. After Werman had laid down a perfect bunt between Camardese and Sanchez at third base, Werman moved up to second as UM’s bunt defense had left no one to cover second base.
Camardese left the game with runners on second and third base after striking out Hagan. Alex Blanco came on in relief and surrendered a sacrifice fly to Matt Street to tie the game at 2-2. An infield hit by Mark Reynolds put runners on first and third base and brought on Miami closer George Huguet, who picked off Reynolds after throwing one strike to Zimmerman to end the inning.
The Hurricanes return to action on Friday, April 30, for the first of a three-game series with Coastal Carolina at Mark Light Field. Game times are set for 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday with the series finale on Sunday scheduled for 1 p.m.
