Hurricanes Remain Undefeated With 7-5 Win Against USF
Feb. 12, 2005
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – Miami improved to 6-0 on the season and equaled its best start ever under head coach Jim Morris with a 7-5 win against South Florida on Saturday night at Mark Light Field. Senior pitcher Dan Touchet picked up his first win of the season and junior Ryan Braun scored three runs and went 2-for-3 at the plate with a solo home run.
Miami jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first. USF pitcher Nick Mangaro gave up a pair of singles to Paco Figueroa and Jon Jay, and a walk to Braun to load the bases. Paco Figueroa scored on a wild pitch to Danny Valencia. After Valencia walked, Brendan Katin grounded out to first to score Braun for a 2-0 lead. A throwing error on a grounder hit by Roger Tomas scored Valencia and Jay to complete the scoring in the inning.
Touchet worked two perfect innings before giving up three runs in the third. USF loaded the bases with one out and scored Brian Baisley on a fielder’s choice. Jeff Baisley hit a ground-rule double to right field to score two more runs and bring the Bulls within 4-3.
The Hurricanes responded with two runs in the fourth on a dropped ball hit by Katin that scored Braun and an RBI single by Tomas to pull ahead, 6-3.
USF closed the gap to 6-4 in the fourth when Joey Angelberger followed up a triple by Ty Taborelli with an RBI double. Braun hit a line drive over the fence in right-center off 1-1 pitch from USF reliever Matt Ingram in the bottom of the seventh for his third home run of the year and a 7-4 lead.
Matt McHargue hit an RBI double to score Bryan Hierlmeier in the eighth to once again pull within two runs at 7-5, but it was as close as the Bulls would get.
Mangaro was charged with the loss and gave up six runs (three earned) on five hits in three innings of work.
Touchet worked through six innings and gave up four hits and four runs for his first win of the season. Junior Cesar Carrillo picked up the save in three innings of work, striking out six and giving up one run on three hits.
The Hurricanes and Bulls conclude their three-game series at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13 at Mark Light Field. Sophomore Chris Perez (1-0, 1.80 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound against USF’s Chase Lirette (4.50 ERA).
