George Washington Comes Back To Defeat Hurricanes, 5-4
Feb. 27, 2005
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – Miami’s (9-3) 20-game home-winning streak ended with a 5-4 loss to George Washington (5-3) Saturday night at Mark Light Field. All five GW runs were scored in the eighth and ninth innings.
It was Miami’s first loss at home since a 2-0 loss to North Carolina on May 16, 2004.
GW trailed for most of the game and didn’t get on the board until the eighth inning. Trailing 4-0, a two-run single by Joe Michalski off UM reliever Jon McLean scored Matt Owens and Mickey Shupin to cut the lead in half. Andrew Lane and Danny Gil were brought in to finish the inning with the Hurricanes up, 4-2.
The Colonials carried their momentum into the ninth. Gil loaded the bases with no outs and Walter Diaz misplayed a ball hit by Matt Owens that scored Brad Rosenblat to make the score 4-3, Miami. Ryan Braun’s throw on a Josh Goldberg grounder went by UM catcher Eddy Rodriguez, allowing Ryan Roberson to score and tie the game. A bunt single by Joe Michalski scored Owens for the game-winning run.
Paco Figueroa gave Miami hope in the bottom of the ninth with a two-out triple, but it was as close as the Hurricanes would get to tying the game.
A pre-game downpour delayed the start of Saturday night’s game 35 minutes, but didn’t slow Miami pitcher Dan Touchet, who struck out a career-high 10 batters. Touchet went seven innings and gave up three hits before giving way to Jon McLean in the seventh inning. All three hits Touchet gave up were singles, including two that didn’t leave the infield.
Gil was charged with the first loss of his career.
Danny and Paco Figueroa got the Hurricanes off to a quick start, reaching base on a single and bunt in the bottom of the first. Left fielder Jon Jay brought Danny Figueroa from third with a ground ball to second base and Danny Valencia scored Paco Figueroa with a single to left field for a 2-0 lead after one inning.
The UM bats were silent until Braun brought Danny Figueroa in from second base with a single to left field in the fifth inning for a 3-0 lead. UM pushed its lead to 4-0 in the sixth with a sacrifice fly to center by Danny Figueroa that scored Roger Tomas from third base.
The three-game series concludes Sunday, Feb. 27 with a 1 p.m. first pitch at Mark Light Field.
Notes
The start of the game was delayed 35 minutes due to rain… The seven stolen bases by the Hurricanes were a season high and the most since the team had eight stolen bases against Maine on March 4, 2004… Touchet’s 10 strikeouts were the most by a Hurricane pitcher since Vince Bongiovanni had 10 against Campbell on Feb. 6, 2003… In his last two starts Touchet has given up one run in 14 innings with 15 strikeouts, two walks and two no-decisions.
