Hurricanes Sweep Long Beach State with 7-6 win
May 29, 2004
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The third-ranked University of Miami baseball team rode a three-run seventh inning highlighted by a game-tying RBI by Jim Burt and a go ahead sacrifice fly off the bat of Gaby Sanchez to sweep Long Beach State, 7-6, Saturday afternoon at Mark Light Field.
The Hurricanes (44-11) used an arsenal of seven pitchers to give Andrew Cohn (1-0) his first decision of the year with the win. The UM tandem of Jon Jay and Adam Ricks both posted multi-hit games – going 2-5 and 3-5 respectively – to hand Long Beach State’s Brian Anderson (0-2) the loss. Miami has now won seven games in a row.
Adam Ricks led UM’s offensive attack in front 1,546 fans with a 3 for 5 day and one RBI. Jon Jay added two hits and two RBI for the Hurricanes.
Vargas’ day on the mound ended in the seventh inning following consecutive singles by Joey Hooft and Jay. Vargas gave way to LBSU reliever Anderson after six innings, allowing six hits, five runs – four earned – four walks and striking out six.
With runners on first and second, Ricks beat out a bunt off Anderson to load the bases bringing up Brian Barton. Barton lined a single to left field scoring Hooft to pull Miami within one run at 6-5.
The Hurricanes tied the game on the next at bat when a pop fly off the bat of Burt to right field fell for a hit, scoring Jay followed by a sacrifice fly to center field by Sanchez to send Ricks home giving Miami the 7-6 lead.
Miami jumped on the board early on a solo home run to left field by Ricks to go up 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
Long Beach State responded in the top of the second when a Tito Cruz double plated Jason Vargas to tie the score at 1-1. Following a single to right field by Mike Hofius, the Dirtbags’ added two more runs on a triple off the bat of Chuck Sindlinger. Sindlinger scored LBSU’s fourth run of the inning, coming in on a single by Brad Davis to go ahead 4-1.
Dirtbag starter Vargas helped UM to their second run of the game, walking four straight batters to bring in Sanchez in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded, Jay singled to center, scoring Richard Giannotti and Roger Tomas to knot the game at 4-4.
Vargas helped his cause in the top of the fifth inning with a two-run shot to left field to lift Long Beach State ahead, 6-4.
The Hurricanes’ Dan Touchcet replaced Brandon Camardese in the top of the sixth, relieving the UM starter after allowing nine hits, six runs, one walk and striking out five in five full innings of work Marcelo Albir come on to pitch the seventh inning.
Albir lasted two batters, surrendering the hill to Cohn.
Miami reliever Ricky Orta entered the game in the top of the ninth to secure the UM win and earn his second save of the season.
The Hurricanes find out if they host a regional on Sunday at approximately 3:10 p.m. on ESPN. The 64-team NCAA field will be announced on Monday, May 31, at noon on ESPN2.
