CARRILLO LEADS HURRICANES IN 1-0 WIN AGAINST ORAL ROBERTS
March 31, 2005
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) Miami junior Cesar Carrillo struck out nine, walked no one and held Oral Roberts to five hits in a 1-0 complete-game win Thursday night at Mark Light Field.
The dazzling performance pushed Carrillo’s record to 7-0 this season and was just one more item on a career resume that shines brighter with every outing. In perhaps the best performance of his career, Carrillo ran his career mark to 19-0 and set a Miami record for consecutive decisions won and most wins without a loss to start a career. The previous record of 18 consecutive decisions won was held by Jerry Brust (1974-75), who finished his career at Miami 18-0.
Miami is now 28-0 all-time when Carrillo takes the mound.
Oral Roberts starting pitcher Dennis Bigley (4-2) matched Carrillo in the loss, giving up five hits in eight innings, with eight strikeouts and one unearned run.
The Miami offense provided Carrillo with all the support he would need in the first inning. Danny Figueroa walked to lead off inning, stole second and advanced to third on the throw. Paco Figueroa followed with single to right-center to drive in the game-winning run.
The next eight innings were filled with masterful pitching from Carrillo and Bigley, and tough defense by the `Canes. Oral Roberts threatened to score twice, putting runners on third base with two outs in the sixth and seventh innings, but grounded out both times.
Carrillo did not tire in his longest outing of the season, striking out the side in the eight inning, just as he did in the first. He struck out Rene Recio looking to close out the game.
Miami and Oral Roberts meet again on Friday at 7 p.m. at Mark Light Field. For ticket information, visit www.hurricanesports.com or call the UM ticket office at 1-800-GO-CANES.
Notes: Carrillo became the first Hurricane pitcher to strike out the side more than once in a game this season… The complete games by Carrillo and Bigley were the first since J.D. Cockcroft pitched a 1-0 complete game against Florida Atlantic’s Randy Beam in an NCAA Regional game on May 31, 2003… It was the first 1-0 win for Miami since the team defeated Penn State by the same score on March 27, 2004… Carrillo’s ERA improved to 0.95.
