Erickson, No. 9 Hurricanes Knock Off Gators, 8-4
Feb. 29, 2008
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CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. – Sophomore lefty Eric Erickson struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings and junior centerfielder Blake Tekotte and sophomore catcher Jason Hagerty combined for six hits as No. 9 Miami knocked off its in-state rival Florida, 8-4, Friday night in front of a sellout crowd of 3,000 at Mark Light Field. Junior second baseman Jemile Weeks homered for the second time this season as the Hurricanes (4-0) remained perfect on the season.
Erickson (2-0) no-hit the Gators (5-1) through five innings. He had a perfect game going heading into the sixth inning before surrendering a walk to Florida’s Jon Townsend. Erickson ended up allowing four runs on four hits while walking one in his second win of the season. Sophomore right-hander Kyle Bellamy continued his hot start for the Hurricanes. Bellamy struck out three in 1 1/3 innings. Carlos Gutierrez tossed a scoreless ninth to end the game.
Kyle Mullaney (0-1) took the loss for the Gators as he surrendered six runs, one earned, on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings and struck out four.
Tekotte had a good night finishing 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Hagerty scored twice and finished 3-for-4 with one RBI. Yonder Alonso went 2-for-3 with a RBI and Weeks ended up 1-for-4 with a run and two RBI for Miami, which out-hit the Gators, 11-4.
Weeks’ two-run home run in the bottom of the second sparked a four-run inning. After Dave DiNatale was hit by a pitch to lead off the second, he scored on a fielding error which allowed Adan Severino to reach base and put UM ahead, 1-0. Tekotte’s RBI single made it, 2-0. Weeks, batting from the left side, unloaded his second home run of the season over the fence in left field giving Miami a 4-0 lead.
The Hurricanes extended their lead to 7-0 in the fifth. Severino walked and scored on Ryan Jackson’s double down the left field line. Jason Hagerty doubled down the right field to score Jackson for a 6-0 UM lead. Hagerty later scored on a wild pitch for the seven-run Miami lead.
The Gators broke up Erickson’s perfect game in the sixth. Townsend walked and Hampton Tignor doubled to right center putting runners in scoring position for the Gators. Buddy Munroe then dropped a base-hit just over the pitching mound, which allowed Townsend to score cutting Miami’s lead to 7-1. Tignor then came around on Clayton Pisani’s fielder’s choice to make it, 7-2.
Jonathan Pigott’s two-run home run in the top of the 7th drew Florida within, 7-4.
Alonso’s sacrifice fly with the bases loaded put the Hurricanes back ahead 8-4 in the bottom of the eighth. Bellamy and Gutierrez combined for 2 1/3 hitless and scoreless innings to seal the UM win.
Four different Gators each had one hit in the game.
The Hurricanes and Gators will continue their series Saturday night at 7 p.m. UM RHP Enrique Garcia (0-0, 2.25 ERA) will face Florida RHP Patrick Keating (1-0, 0.00 ERA).
Game Notes
§ Miami had a sellout crowd of 3,000 for the third time this season.
§ Tonight’s win was the 1,200 home win for the Hurricanes at Mark Light Field.
§ Junior second baseman Jemile Weeks hit his second home run of the season in the second inning. He now has a team-leading Five RBI.
§ Sophomore right-hander Kyle Bellamy struck out three in 1.1 innings against UF in the series opener. Bellamy now has eight strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings in three appearances this season and has not allowed a run, a hit or a walk.
§ Sophomore lefty Eric Erickson fell just two shy of his career-high in strikeouts (11) which he set against Maryland on March 16, 2007. He ended up with nine strikeouts.
§ Sophomore shortstop Ryan Jackson picked up his team-leading third double. Four of his six hits on the season have gone for extra-bases.
