Sobolewski's Five RBI Lifts No. 5 UM to 7-4 Win
March 12, 2008
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CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. – Sophomore third baseman Mark Sobolewski drove in a season-high five runs in going 3-for-5 with a three-run homer and sophomore right-hander Anthony Nalepa won his second game in relief as No. 5 Miami won its sixth in a row by defeating Maine, 7-4, Wednesday night at Mark Light Field. Sophomore reliever Kyle Bellamy earned his first career save after tossing a scoreless ninth inning for the Hurricanes who improved to 11-1.
Junior college transfers Adan Severino and Ryan Perry each collected a pair of hits as Miami out-hit the Black Bears, 12-11. Nalepa moved to 2-0 on the season after allowing one unearned run on four hits. Sophomore right-hander John Housey started for Miami and allowed three earned runs on five hits in four innings. Alex Koronis, Iden Nazario and Bellamy limited the Black Bears (5-8) to two hits over the final three scoreless innings.
Curt Smith, Tony Patane, Billy Cathery, Kevin McAvoy and Kevin Mager each had two hits for the Black Bears. Jon Balentina took the loss for Maine as he allowed two runs and didn’t record an out in the fifth inning. Jimmy Cox started for Maine and tossed 1 2/3 innings allowing three runs on five hits. Matt Jebb pitched two effective innings in relief and stuck out four, while giving up just one hit.
Sobolewski unleashed his first home run of the season in the bottom of the second inning. He blasted a three-run shot off the scoreboard in left field tying the game, 3-3.
Miami loaded the bases in the third inning with no outs on back-to-back walks issued to Yonder Alonso and Jason Hagerty and a single to left by Severino. With one out, Sobolewski reached on a fielder’s choice giving Miami a 4-3 lead.
Smith’s RBI single to center field tied things back up in the top of the fifth, 4-4, for the Black Bears, but Miami answered with two runs in the bottom half of the frame. After an Alonso double down the left field line and a Hagerty walk, Severino reached on an error which allowed Alonso to score giving UM a 5-4 lead. Sobolewski followed with a single through the right side putting UM ahead, 6-4.
Perry’s RBI single to left in the bottom of the seventh pushed the Canes ahead, 7-4.
The Black Bears jumped out to a 3-0 lead over the first two innings. Smith hit a solo home run in the top of the first putting Maine ahead, 1-0. In the top of the second, Mager drove in McAvoy after his leadoff double and Mager scored on Patane’s RBI single giving Maine the three-run lead.
Miami continues Atlantic Coast Conference play when they travel to Raleigh, N.C for its first road test of the season. The Hurricanes will face NC State in a three-game series at Doak Field Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Game times are 6:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Game Notes
§ Sophomore third baseman Mark Sobolewski had a season-high five RBI in the win and fell just one RBI shy of his career-high.
§ Miami won its sixth straight game marking the first time since the 2006 season that the Hurricanes had a streak that long. UM last won six in a row from April 29-May 13, 2006 when they won series over NC State, WrightState and WakeForest. Miami won seven in a row during that stretch.
§ The Hurricanes turned in their sixth consecutive double-digit hitting performance racking up 12 hits on the night. UM has now had at least 10 hits in a game eight times this season. UM is now hitting .333 on the season.
§ Junior second baseman Ryan Perry recorded his first multiple-hit game as a Hurricane going 2-for-4 with an RBI.
§ Sophomore right-hander Kyle Bellamy registered his first career save in the win. Bellamy is 1-0 with a save in six appearances. He has a 0.00 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings and no walks. He has only given up one hit.
