Hurricanes Two-Hit Northeastern in 5-1 Win
March 2, 2005
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – University of Miami sophomore pitcher Ricky Orta pitched five solid innings of one-hit ball and junior Ryan Braun drove in two runs to lead the Hurricanes to a 5-1 win against Northeastern Wednesday night at Mark Light Field. UM improved to 11-3 and Northeastern dropped to 2-3 with the loss.
Orta picked up the win for Miami in his first career start and moved his record to 2-1. Northeastern’s Adam Ottavino was charged with the loss and gave up five runs on five hits in seven innings. Braun, left fielder Jon Jay and shortstop Roger Tomas led the Hurricanes with two hits apiece.
While Orta’s first game as a starter may have ended pleasantly, it certainly didn’t begin that way. Northeastern leadoff man Chris Emanuele banked the first pitch he saw from Orta off the scoreboard in left field for a 1-0 Husky lead. Luckily for Orta, it wasn’t a sign of things to come.
The sophomore worked efficiently through Northeastern’s lineup and retired 12 straight batters before walking Tim Bush to start the fifth inning. Orta worked his way out of a two-out, bases-loaded situation to finish the inning. UM junior reliever Andrew Lane gave up one hit and struck out two in two innings of relief. Freshman Carlos Gutierrez struck out four Huskies in the final two innings to close out the game for the `Canes.
Miami got off to its signature fast start with a four-run first inning. Ottavino gave up a single to Danny Figueroa, walked Paco Figueroa and allowed Jay to reach base on a bunt single to load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the first. Braun smacked a double to right field to bring in the Figueroas for a 2-1 lead. Jay scored on a wild pitch and Braun was brought home on a single by freshman Alex Garabedian to put Miami up 4-1.
Tomas followed Brendan Katin’s double in the third with a two-out RBI single to left. Tomas was tagged out trying to stretch the hit into a double to end the inning.
Miami opens its inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference slate with a three-game home series against North Carolina State (10-2) on Friday, March 4 at Mark Light Field. The first pitch is set for 7 p.m.
Notes: Jay extended his hitting streak to 11 games and has hit safely in 27 of the last 28 games, dating back to May 19, 2004… Miami’s starting pitchers the last four games have pitched 23.0 innings, allowed 12 hits, one earned run with seven walks and 31 strikeouts… Jay went 2-for-3 for his 10th multi-hit game of the season.
