Hurricanes Take Series Opener over Duke, 9-3
May 17, 2007
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – – Roger Tomas, Dennis Raben, Yonder Alonso and Gus Menendez combined for eight extra-base hits and Scott Maine won his fifth game as Miami won the Atlantic Coast Conference series opener over Duke, 9-3, Thursday night at Mark Light Field. Tomas and Menendez each homered for the Hurricanes (33-20, 15-13 ACC), who out-hit the Blue Devils (29-23, 8-20 ACC), 10-8, in clinching a spot in next week’s ACC Tournament.
Raben drove in a team-high three runs. He tied the game with a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth. Tomas hit his second career home run, but his first to leave a ballpark. He had an inside-the-park home run during the 2005 season. Tomas, Raben, Alonso and Menendez each finished with two hits. Raben and Alonso each doubled twice.
Maine improved to 5-5 while allowing three runs in six innings. He struck out three. Relievers David Gutierrez, Kyle Bellamy and Teddy Kaufman one-hit the Blue Devils over the last three innings.
Duke’s Nate Freiman went 4-for-4 with two RBIs. Starting pitcher Jonathan Anderson (3-4) gave up four runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings in getting the loss.
Menendez hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh which capped a five-run seventh inning for Miami. The Hurricanes increased its lead to 5-3 on Alonso’s second double which scored Blake Tekotte. Jemile Weeks’ triple scored Alonso to make it, 6-3, before Raben doubled in Alonso as UM led, 7-3. Menendez then hit his second home run of the season to cap the scoring.
Tomas’ leadoff solo home run in the bottom of the sixth tied the game, 3-3. After Miami loaded the bases with two outs, Richard O’Brien drew a walk which scored Raben putting Miami ahead for good, 4-3.
Duke snapped a 2-2 tie in the top of the fifth on Anderson’s RBI single which gave the Blue Devils a 3-2 lead.
Miami rallied from a 2-0 deficit on Raben’s two-run double in the bottom of the fourth which scored Alonso and Weeks.
Duke jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on Freiman’s double to right center which scored Jimmy Gallagher. With runners in scoring position, Freiman’s second base-hit allowed Kyle Butler to score putting Duke ahead, 2-0, but Miami left fielder Mark Sobolewski threw out Gallagher at home plate for the second out of the inning.
Miami and Duke continue their series Friday night at 7 p.m. at Mark Light Field. The Hurricanes will recognize seniors Roger Tomas, Chris Petralli, Richard O’Brien, Danny Gil and Gus Menendez before the game. Miami will start freshman LHP Eric Erickson (8-3, 1.93 ERA) against Duke RHP Tony Bajoczky (9-2, 2.92 ERA).
Game Notes: Before the game, Coral Gables police officer Luis Lanz, a former high school teammate of Miami’s pitching coach J.D. Arteaga at Westminster Christian, threw out the first pitch. Lanz will be leaving Friday to begin training for two months before being shipped to Iraq for approximately 15 months … UM third baseman Roger Tomas hit his second career home run, before first home run to leave a ballpark … Miami clinched a spot in next week’s ACC Tournament improving to 15-13 in the ACC. Boston College lost its series opener to Virginia, 5-4, in 10 innings to fall to 12-16 in the ACC with two games left. Wake Forest defeated Virginia Tech, 5-2, to improve to 13-15 in the conference. Miami holds the tie-breaker over Wake Forest.
