Marlins Rally to Defeat No. 12 Hurricanes
Feb. 27, 2007
Jupiter, Fla. – – Gus Menendez went 3-for-3, but the Florida Marlins rallied from a three-run deficit to defeat the University of Miami Hurricanes, 12-7, Tuesday afternoon in an exhibition game at Roger Dean Stadium. Miami pounded out 11 hits as a team against the major league club, but Florida rallied late for the second straight year to win.
Ryan Jackson finished 1-for-1 with two RBIs for UM, who had nine different players get at least one hit. Four of the 12 Hurricane hitters went for extra bases. Eight Miami pitchers combined to strike out nine Marlins. Anthony Nalepa had two strikeouts in one inning pitched. Freshman right-hander John Housey started for the Hurricanes and struck out one in one inning. Teddy Kaufman, Michael Rudman, David Gutierrez, Kyle Bellamy, Enrique Garcia, Danny Gil and Dennis Raben all pitched in the game.
Miami trailed just 9-7 heading into the eighth. After the Marlins held UM scoreless in the top half of the eighth, Joe Borchard added insurance runs for the Marlins with a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth that put Florida ahead, 12-7.
The Marlins scored seven runs in the last two innings to rally. Florida took a 9-7 lead in the bottom of the seventh on Nick Trzesniak RBI walk and Eric Reed’s RBI single. Joe Dillon reached on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded and the Marlins took advantage of a UM error to go ahead by two runs.
Miami used two doubles and a couple of walks to score five runs in the top of the sixth. Nick Freitas doubled to right center and moved to third on an error by the center field. He scored on Chris Petralli’s sacrifice fly pulling UM to 4-3. Menendez walked and stole second. Ryan Jackson drove in Menendez tying the game, 4-4. Richard O’Brien followed with a single to left field moving Jackson to third. Kevin Diego then walked to load the bases. Jemile Weeks put the Hurricanes ahead when his infield single hit off second base umpire allowing Jackson to score giving UM a 5-4 lead. Ben Vazquez’s pinch-hit double down the left field put Miami ahead, 7-4.
Jeremy Hermida’s solo home run in the bottom of the fourth tied the game, 2-2.
Miami took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth. Dave DiNatale had an infield single and advanced to second on Dennis Raben’s single to center field. Menendez loaded the bases when he placed a perfect bunt single between the pitcher and third baseman. Ryan Jackson then drew a bases loaded walk to tie the game, 1-1. The Hurricanes took their first lead when Richard O’Brien reached on a fielder’s choice to score Raben.
The Marlins took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third on Miguel Cabrera’s solo home run to left center.
Miami returns home for its final nonconference series before Atlantic Coast Conference play when UM hosts Fordham this weekend.
