Alonso's Two-Run Single Rallies No. 23 Miami Past Maine, 4-2
March 13, 2007
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – – Sophomore first baseman Yonder Alonso drove in the go-ahead runs in the bottom of the eighth and No. 23 Miami rallied with four runs in the eighth inning to defeat Maine, 4-2, Tuesday night at Mark Light Field. Danny Gil recorded his first save for the Hurricanes, who out-hit the Black Bears, 9-7.
Alex Koronis won his second game for the Hurricanes as he allowed one run over two innings and struck out two batters in relief of starter Enrique Garcia. Garcia held the Black Bears to one run through six innings and scattered five hits. He struck out four. Gil pitched the ninth inning and struck out two of the three batters he faced.
Alonso finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBI while senior shortstop Roger Tomas went 2-for-4 with one RBI. Maine starter Brad Hertzler tossed 7 1/3 solid innings. He only allowed one earned run and sat down 10 Hurricanes on strikeouts. Joel Thorney took the loss in relief as he surrendered two runs on one hit and a walk. Center fielder Billy Cather went 2-for-4 while shortstop Curt Smith also had two hits.
Trailing 2-0, the Hurricanes scored four runs with one out in the bottom of the eighth. Ryan Jackson pinch hit and reached first on a fielder’s choice. Jemile Weeks doubled down the left field line putting the tying runs in scoring position. Jackson was caught in a rundown at third base, but ending up scoring on an error by Thorney during the rundown pulling UM within, 2-1. Tomas then doubled in Weeks tying the game. After Mark Sobolewski was intentionally walked, Maine’s Nolan Boike was called for a balk allowing the runners to advance. Alonso singled to right field to score both runners for a 4-2 lead.
Maine took a 2-0 lead in the top of the seventh inning on Myckie Lugbauer’s lead-off solo home run over the right field wall.
The Black Bears scored the game’s first run in the top of the third. Mark Ostrander singled and moved to third on Cather’s single to right field. Ostrander scored on Matt McGraw’s single to center field putting Maine ahead, 1-0.
Miami continues its five-game homestand when the Hurricanes host Rutgers at 7 p.m. Wednesday night at Mark Light Field. The game can be heard locally on WVUM (90.5 FM) or via the internet at www.wvum.org.
