Hurricanes Lose Big Lead, Game To Ole Miss, 11-9
June 10, 2006
OXFORD, Miss. (www.hurricanesports.com) – Miami gave up six runs to Ole Miss with two outs in a momentum-shifting fifth inning on its way to an 11-9 loss in the first game of the Oxford Super Regional in front of 9,202 at Swayze Field at Oxford-University Stadium on Saturday night.
The Hurricanes (39-22) had built a 9-3 lead through four innings with some of its best offensive play of the season. But Ole Miss (44-20) battled back to tie the game in the fifth and scored two more runs in the sixth to take an 11-9 lead. Rebel reliever Craig Rodriguez and closer Garrett White held the `Canes at bay through the final four innings to earn the win and put Ole Miss in the driver’s seat of the best-of-three series.
Miami starter Scott Maine shook off a three-run first inning and coasted until the Rebels were down to their final out of the fifth inning. The Rebel rally started with a solo home run by Zack Cozart. Alex Presley followed with a single to center and scored on C.J. Ketchum’s double to left-center. Maine hit Logan Power and gave up a RBI single to Justin Brashear before he was replaced by Jon McLean with Mark Wright coming to the plate. Wright hit an opposite-field three-run bomb on a 1-2 count to tie the game.
The Rebels carried their momentum into a decisive sixth inning, scoring the game-winning runs of Miami reliever Andrew Lane (1-1). Chris Coghlan hit a one-out single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Cozart singled to left to drive in Coghlan and give the Rebels their first lead since the first inning, 10-9. Presley hit an infield single to put runners at the corners and Lane was replaced by Marcelo Albir. Ketchum pushed the lead to 11-9 with a sac fly RBI before the inning ended with Presley being thrown out trying to steal second.
Miami dominated the first four innings of the game. Danny Valencia knocked in Jon Jay from second with a slap-single to left off Will Kline to take a 1-0 lead.
Ole Miss answered with three-straight hits to lead off its half of the first, the last of which was a RBI single from Cozart that scored leadoff man Justin Henry. Consecutive RBI groundouts from Presley and Ketchum gave the Rebels a 3-1 lead.
Eddy Rodriguez singled and Roger Tomas doubled to open the Miami second. Freshman Yonder Alonso worked Kline to a 3-1 count before giving Miami a 4-3 lead with a three-run shot to left field. Blake Tekotte followed with a single and moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Jemile Weeks laid down a bunt single to put runners at the corners for Tommy Giles, who bunted home Tekotte for the 5-3 cushion.
Miami added onto its lead in the third. Tomas hit a one-out bloop single to center to bring in Dennis Raben. Tekotte laced a two-out RBI triple right-center to bring in Tomas for a four-run lead, chasing Kline in favor of Craig Rodriguez.
The Hurricanes were poised to break the game open in the fourth, loading the bases with no outs. But Craig Rodriguez was able to get out of the jam, forcing Raben and Eddy Rodriguez out on a pair of infield flys, and struck out Tomas looking to end the inning.
Weeks followed a one-out walk to Tekotte with a two-run shot to left for a 9-3 score in the fifth.
Tomas, Tekotte, Jay and Weeks all had two hits apiece to lead Miami’s 13-hit effort. Maine earned a no-decision and Lane was charged with the loss.
White earned his 11th save of the season.
Miami and Ole Miss will continue the best-of-three series with a 7 p.m. ET on Sunday. The game will be televised in South Florida on ESPN2.
Notes: Jay’s single in the first inning was the 246th hit of his career, moving him into sole possession of seventh place on the career hit list … Alonso’s home run was his first since May 6 against Wright State and it was his first multiple-RBI game since May 7 against Wright State …
