No. 6 Hurricanes Complete Sweep of Boston College, 7-1
March 9, 2008
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CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. – Freshman lefty Chris Hernandez won his second game and sophomore shortstop Ryan Jackson drove in three runs as No. 6 Miami completed the sweep of BostonCollege, 7-1, Sunday afternoon at Mark Light Field. Junior second baseman Jemile Weeks went 3-for-4 with one RBI for the Hurricanes (9-1, 3-0 ACC), who swept their Atlantic Coast Conference series opener for only the second time since joining the league in 2005.
Hernandez (2-0) was solid in his third straight start for the Hurricanes. He allowed just one earned run on four hits and struck out four in seven innings. He now has 19 strikeouts in 19 innings with just two walks on the season. Redshirt junior Carlos Gutierrez tossed scoreless eighth and ninth innings and struck out two. Right fielder Adan Severino and left fielder Dave DiNatale each had a pair of hits for Miami, who out-hit the Eagles, 14-6.
Catcher Tony Sanchez was one of six Eagles (6-7, 0-3 ACC), who had one hit on the day. He drove in BC’s lone run in the sixth. BostonCollege’s James MacDonald (2-1) was saddled with the loss. He allowed three runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Miami jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. DiNatale doubled down the left field line and scored on Jackson’s RBI double to right field putting the Hurricanes, 1-0. Mark Sobolewski’s base-hit to right field allowed Jackson to score for the two-run UM lead.
Severino’s RBI single through the right side allowed Yonder Alonso to score and give Miami a 3-0 lead.
The Eagles pulled within, 3-1, in the top of the sixth when Barry Butera scored when Sanchez hit into a fielder’s choice. BC had the tying runs on base with one out, but Hernandez got Michael Belfiore to hit into a double play ending the sixth.
Miami added three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Weeks’ RBI single gave the Hurricanes a 4-1 lead when Blake Tekotte, who led off the seventh with a bunt single, scored. The Hurricanes loaded the bases with two outs. Jackson’s two-run single brought in a pair of runs to make it, 6-1.
Junior Ryan Perry’s first career hit – a double down the left field line allowed freshman catcher Yasmani Grandal to score in the bottom of the eighth giving UM a 7-1 lead. Grandal doubled to left center with one out in the eighth.
Miami returns to action Tuesday when the Hurricanes host PennState at 7 p.m. Junior right-hander Jason Santana (2-0, 1.54 ERA) will start for the Hurricanes. Miami will take on Maine at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Mark Light Field.
Game Three and Series Notes
§ Sophomore shortstop Ryan Jackson continued on his torrid streak of extra-base hits. Jackson hit his team-leading fifth double in the second inning. Of his 12 hits on the season, seven have gone for extra-bases including five doubles, one triple and one home run. Jackson hit .333 in three games against BC and drove in five runs.
§ For the fourth straight game, Miami recorded double-digits in hits. UM had 14 hits in the series finale and 40 total hits in the BC series.
§ Miami swept a team to open up ACC play for just the second time since joining the league in 2005. UM swept Virginia Tech in the 2006 ACC opener.
§ Miami enjoyed a good weekend at the plate as a team. UM hit .381 in the BC series. UM homered eight times in the series and drove in 25 runs.
§ UM pitchers posted a 3.00 ERA on the weekend, struck out 29 in 27 innings and held BC to a .238 batting average.
§ Junior right fielder Adan Severino led the Hurricanes in hitting. Severino batted .636 (7-for-11) with four runs scored, one home run and three RBI.
§ Junior second baseman Jemile Weeks hit .583 (7-for-12) in the BC series. Weeks had a double, a triple and a home run while driving in three runs.
§ Sophomore catcher Jason Hagerty started the first two games behind the plate. He batted .571 in the series with two home runs and three RBI.
§ Junior first baseman Yonder Alonso homered three times in the BC series and drove in a team-high six runs. He walked five times and hit .556 (5-for-9) with four runs scored. He slugged 1.556 and owned a .714 on-base percentage.
§ Sophomore lefty Eric Erickson won his third game of the season in the series opener. Erickson allowed just one earned run in seven innings and struck out eight. Opponents are hitting just .198 against him this season.
§ Freshman lefty Chris Hernandez won his second game in three starts and struck out four in seven innings. He allowed just four hits. On the season, opponents are hitting just .138 against him.
-UM-
