Hurricanes Rally to Win ACC Series at No. 11 Clemson, 7-6
April 1, 2007
CLEMSON, S.C. – Danny Gil pitched 3 2/3 innings in relief to earn his first win of the season and Gus Menendez delivered a key two-run single in the seventh inning after an 89 minute rain delay as Miami rallied to win a series at No. 11 Clemson, 7-6, Sunday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in front of 4,208 fans. Ryan Jackson led the Hurricanes (17-13, 5-7 ACC) going 3-for-5 with two runs while Yonder Alonso finished 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Gil held Clemson (18-9, 5-4 ACC) to one unearned run on four hits and struck out one. Miami starter Enrique Garcia lasted 4 1/3 innings after giving up four runs, three earned, on six hits. Alex Koronis pitched an inning in relief as he allowed one run on two hits.
Roger Tomas finished 2-for-3 with one run for UM, which out-hit Clemson, 13-12.
The Tigers last lost a home ACC series during the 2005 season to Georgia Tech. Clemson lost only two conference series last season as they won the league by going 24-6 in the ACC. Miami won its first series over the Tigers since joining the ACC. UM last won two games against Clemson in 2001 in a Super Regional.
Clemson starter David Kopp pitched into the sixth inning before being relieved by Matt Zoltak. Kopp threw 5 2/3 innings and gave up four runs, one earned, on seven hits. Zoltak gave up two runs on three hits in 1/3 of an inning. Daniel Moskos pitched three innings in relief and allowed three runs, one earned, on three hits. He struck out three.
The Tigers drew within 7-6 in the bottom of the eighth. Wilson Boyd singled up the middle. He moved to second on a ground ball and took third on a passed ball. Johnson’s infield single then scored Boyd.
Alonso drove in another run for the Hurricanes in the top of the eighth. Jackson hit a one-out single to right center. After Tomas walked, Alonso knocked in Jackson putting UM ahead, 7-5.
Gus Menendez’s pinch-hit two-out RBI single scored a pair of runs putting the Hurricanes back ahead, 6-5, in the top of the seventh. Miami loaded the bases on three straight base-hits from Tomas, Alonso and Mark Sobolewski. Moskos relieved Zoltak and was able to get Dennis Raben to ground into a double play. Menendez knocked the first pitch he saw into right field scoring Alonso and Sobolewski.
Ben Paulsen’s RBI double in the bottom of the sixth gave Clemson a 5-4 lead. Doug Hogan started the inning with a bunt single, before Paulsen drove him in. The Tigers loaded the bases with one out, but Gil pitched out of the jam ending the sixth.
Clemson came within, 4-3, in the bottom of the fifth. Addison Johnson’s double to left field scored J.D. Burgess, who earned an infield single, after Tomas slipped while trying to make a play at first. Johnson took third on a pickoff attempt and scored when Garcia was called for a balk tying the game, 4-4.
The Hurricanes scored three runs in the top of the fourth. UM loaded the bases when Jackson singled through the left side, Blake Tekotte reached on a fielder’s choice and Roger Tomas hit a bunt single. Yonder Alonso then drew a walk allowing Jackson to score to make it, 2-2. Mark Sobolewski grounded into a double play, but Tekotte scored giving UM a 3-2 lead. Raben doubled in Tomas for the third run of the inning and 4-2 Miami advantage.
Clemson took advantage of a couple of Miami miscues regaining a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Marquez Smith singled. A wild pitch allowed Smith to take second. After a ground out, he scored on a balk putting the Tigers ahead by a run.
The Hurricanes tied the game, 1-1, in the top of the fourth. Mark Sobolewski walked and stole second. He scored when Dave DiNatale ripped a single to center field.
Clemson took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on Hogan’s RBI single to right center that scored Andy D’Alessio.
Miami returns home Wednesday to face Florida International at Mark Light Field at 7 p.m.
