Hurricanes Sweep Series Against Florida International
Jan. 29, 2006
MIAMI – Three Hurricane pitchers combined for a five-hit shutout and freshman Blake Tekotte hit his first career home run to pace No. 16 Miami in a 5-0 win against Florida International in front of 2,112 at University Park Sunday afternoon. The win completed a home-and-home series sweep of FIU and ran Miami’s win streak against its local rival to four games.
Sophomore Manny Miguelez (1-0) threw six innings of five-hit ball with five strikeouts and one walk to pick up the win. Danny Gil pitched two innings of hitless relief and Chris Perez closed out the game with two strikeouts in the ninth inning.
In Miami’s two games this season, the Hurricanes’ starting pitchers, Miguelez and Carlos Gutierrez, have combined to pitch 11 scoreless innings, giving up just six hits and striking out eight batters with only three walks.
Tekotte, who drove in three runs in the season opener, went 2-for-4 in the leadoff position with two runs scored, two RBI and a walk. Cleanup hitter Danny Valencia knocked in two runs and Jon Jay went 2-for-4. Junior Gus Menendez earned his first career start as a Hurricane, going 2-for-3 with a run scored as the designated hitter.
The Hurricanes put their first six batters on base via four singles and two walks, but managed only one run in the first inning. FIU pitcher Chris Siebenaler caught Tekotte in a rundown for the first out and then picked off Valencia following Miami’s fourth consecutive hit of the inning, a single to left field that scored Jemile Weeks from second. Siebenaler walked two more batters to load the bases before striking out Eddy Rodriguez to end the inning.
UM’s second inning proved to be more productive. Tekotte hit a high fly ball that was pushed by a strong outgoing wind over the left field fence for his first collegiate home run, driving in Gus Menendez and giving UM a 3-0 lead. An errant throw to first by Siebenaler allowed Jay to advance to second on his bunt single and move him into scoring position with two outs. Valencia singled to left to score Jay for a 4-0 lead.
Miami added an insurance run in the fourth on a sac fly to left field by Weeks that scored Tekotte for the final 5-0 score.
Miguelez continued to work efficiently through the Golden Panther lineup before he was spelled by Gil to start the seventh. Perez struck out Corey Lozano to end the game.
Siebenaler was charged with the loss for FIU, pitching seven innings and giving up nine hits and five runs with three strikeouts and three walks.
The Hurricanes return to action on Friday, Feb. 3, in the first of a three-game series against Winthrop at Mark Light Field. For ticket information, call the UM ticket office at 1-800-G0-CANES.
