Miami Closes Series Against Maryland With 3-1 Win
March 26, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (www.hurricanesports.com) – Miami pitcher Scott Maine (5-0) won his fifth-straight start with eight innings of two-hit ball to help the Hurricanes defeat Maryland 3-1 on a brisk Sunday afternoon at Shipley Field. The Hurricanes bounced back from Saturday night’s loss to the Terps to clinch a series victory and improve to 23-7 overall and 8-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
It was the second consecutive eight-inning, two-hit outing for Maine, who tied a career high with six strikeouts against two walks. Maine gave up an unearned run in the third inning and has not allowed an earned run in his last 16 inninngs on the mound. UM setup man Andrew Lane struck out the only batter he faced in the ninth inning before closer Chris Perez came on to record the final two outs and earn his seventh save of the season.
Maryland starter John Dischert (3-2) was charged with the loss and went five innings and gave up five hits and three runs with three strikeouts and two walks.
Jon Jay led Miami at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Second baseman Jemile Weeks tied a 29-year-old Miami record with a single up the middle in the first inning. The hit extended Weeks’ hitting streak to 16 games, matching Jim Maler’s freshman record, set in the 1977 season.
Weeks’ one-out single keyed a two-run first inning for Miami. Dischert walked Jay and Yonder Alonso to load the bases for Danny Valencia, who hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Weeks. Jay advanced to third on the play. A failed pickoff attempt to first by Dischert sailed into foul territory, allowing Jay to score and gave Miami a 2-0 lead.
Miami added a run in the third on a RBI single from Yonder Alonso. Jay hit a two-out single, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball to set up Alonso’s team-leading 39th RBI of the season.
The Terps gained some ground in its half of the third with a sac fly RBI from Steve Braun to score Nick Jowers from third, cutting the UM lead to 3-1.
Miami returns to Coral Gables for a six-game home stand, beginning with a three-game series against ACC foe Clemson March 31-April 2 at Mark Light Field.
Notes: Maryland’s third-inning run was the first Miami has allowed in the third inning this season… Perez has equaled his save total from the 2005 season with 25 regular-season games remaining… Maine’s ERA dropped to 2.10 and Miami’s staff ERA now stands at 2.35.
