Elon Holds Off No. 11 Miami, 10-7, in Series Opener
Feb. 23, 2007
Elon scored eight runs in the first four innings including five in the first as the Phoenix held on to defeat No. 11 Miami, 10-7, Friday night in the first game of a three-game series at Mark Light Field. Freshman third baseman Mark Sobolewski turned in a career-best 4-for-4 performance driving in four of the seven Hurricane runs, but UM dropped its fifth game of the season.
Robert Rodebaugh led Elon (5-2) going 2-for-5 with five RBI including a three-run home run. Dave DiNatale went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI for Miami. Miami (4-5) stranded 13 baserunners in the game including runners with the bases loaded twice.
Scott Maine (1-2) suffered his second straight loss as he gave up eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. John Housey pitched 2 1/3 innings in relief while Alex Koronis held Elon scoreless and hitless for the final three innings of the game.
Elon’s J.D. Reichenbach improved to 3-0 on the season. He tossed 3 2/3 innings in relief and held Miami to one unearned run in four hits. Steven Hensley started the game for Elon and lasted 3 1/3 innings. Hensley gave up six earned runs on six hits. He walked five and struck out five.
With Miami trailing 10-6 in the bottom of the seventh and one out, Roger Tomas singled in Ryan Jackson to make it, 10-7. Tomas moved up to second when Nick Freitas reached on an error. UM called for a double steal. After Jemile Weeks flied out to center field, Reichenback got Yonder Alonso to strike out swinging to end the UM threat.
The Phoenix took a 10-6 lead in the top of the sixth. Elon led off the sixth with back-to-back singles. A Miami fielding error would have loaded the bases but Chris Dove was thrown out at home trying to advance two bases on the error. With runners on first and second, Elon drew back-to-back walks to make it, 9-6, before Brett Arnold was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded giving the Phoenix the run lead.
Miami pulled within 8-6 in the bottom of the sixth when Sobolewski’s two-run single scored DiNatale and Alonso.
The Phoenix pushed its lead to 8-4 in the top of the fourth. Elon loaded the bases
Sobolewski’s run-scoring double in the bottom of the third brought the Hurricanes within, 5-4.
Miami rallied for three runs in the bottom of the first to pull within, 5-3. David DiNatale’s RBI single to right field scored Roger Tomas as UM trailed, 5-1. Dennis Raben followed with a base-hit to right field. Sobolewski then drove in DiNatale for UM’s second run. Miami loaded the bases before Richard O’Brien was hit by a pitch for the third run of the inning.
Elon scored five runs on six hits in the top of the first. After back-to-back infield singles, Robert Rodebaugh blasted a three-run home run putting the Phoenix ahead, 3-0. Drew Davis’ RBI single brought in another Elon run for a 4-0 Phoenix lead. Chris Dove’s base hit to left field scored Chase Austin final the 5-0 lead.
Miami and Elon continue their series Saturday night at 7 p.m. Freshman LHP Eric Erickson will make his first career start for the Hurricanes while Elon will counter with RHP Will Romanowicz.
Game Notes: Five of Elon’s first 11 hits were infield hits … Alonso’s strikeout in the first inning was only his second of the season, but Alonso struck out three times in the game … Elon’s Robert Rodebaugh hit his first home run of the season in the first inning … Miami stranded 13 baserunners while Elon left nine runners on base … Elon defeated Miami for the first time since the 2002 season.
