Long Ball Lifts Hurricanes to 10-3 Win at No. 11 Clemson
March 30, 2007
CLEMSON, S.C. – – Yonder Alonso homered twice and fellow sophomore Dennis Raben added his fifth home run of the season and pitched two scoreless innings in relief as Miami snapped a seven-game losing streak to No. 11 Clemson with a 10-3 win Friday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in the first game of their Atlantic Coast Conference series. Raben and Alonso each finished with two hits and four RBI.
Eric Erickson (4-3) tossed six innings and held the Tigers to three runs – all in the third inning – on six hits in picking up his fourth win. Raben relieved Erickson in the seventh inning. He tossed two scoreless innings and struck out two. Alex Koronis pitched the final inning for the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes last defeated Miami in a Super Regional in Coral Gables during the 2001 season. It is UM’s first win over the Tigers since joining the ACC. UM also snapped a 21-game home winning streak in ACC play for Clemson.
Clemson starter P.J. Zocchi (3-1) lasted four innings. He gave up four runs on five hits and had five strikeouts. It was Zocchi’s first career loss as he entered the game a perfect 10-0 in four seasons for the Tigers.
Blake Tekotte, Mark Sobolewski, Roger Tomas and Chris Petralli each had two hits for Miami, who out-hit the Tigers, 13-7.
Alonso led off the top of the ninth with his second home run of the game putting UM ahead 8-3. Sobolewski followed with a base-hit up the middle. After a sacrifice bunt from Roger Tomas, Sobolewski took third on a balk. Dave DiNatale doubled in Sobolewski to make it, 9-3. Raben’s single to right center scored DiNatale for a 10-3 Miami advantage.
Tekotte led off the top of the seventh with a single through the right side. He advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ryan Jackson walked and Tekotte moved to third on another wild pitch. Alonso then blasted his seventh home run to right center putting the Hurricanes ahead, 7-3.
Raben’s three-run home run put Miami ahead, 4-3, in the top of the fourth. Sobolewski started the rally for the Hurricanes. He dropped a single along the right field line. Tomas followed with a base-hit to left center. Dave DiNatale loaded the bases when he drew a walk. Sobolewski scored on a wild pitch getting UM within, 3-1. Raben then delivered his fifth home run of the season when he hit a 3-2 pitch over the fence in right field putting the Hurricanes ahead by one run.
Clemson struck first in the bottom of the third. Taylor Harbin hit a one-out double that scored Addison Johnson, who led off the inning with a walk and stolen base. Harbin scored on Marquez Smith’s single to center field putting the Tigers ahead 2-0. Paul Hogan’s ground ball scored Smith to make it, 3-0.
The Hurricanes and Tigers continue their three-game series Saturday at 7 p.m. LHP Scott Maine will face Clemson lefty Ryan Hinson. The game will be televised live on CSS.
Taylor Harbin, Doug Hogan and Marquez Smith each had two hits for Clemson.
Game Notes: Miami last had two players homer in the same game against North Carolina in the series finale earlier this season. Raben homered twice that day against the Tar Heels and Jemile Weeks hit a solo shot to right field for UM.
