Jackson, No. 2 Hurricanes Knock Off Wildcats, 10-5
March 25, 2008
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CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. – Sophomore shortstop Ryan Jackson went a perfect 4-for-4, including his second career home run in the bottom of the fourth, as the No. 2 University of Miami baseball team won the first of two mid-week contests against Bethune-Cookman, 10-5, Tuesday night at Mark Light Field.
Jackson scored a career-high three runs in addition to tying his career-best marks with four hits and four RBI. Sophomore catcher Jason Hagerty went 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBI for the Hurricanes (18-2), who set a new school record with their sixth straight game with 10 or more runs. Sophomore third baseman Mark Sobolewski also went 2-for-4 for Miami.
John Housey earned his second win of the season in his just fourth career start, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out four. Iden Nazario, Kyle Bellamy and Carlos Gutierrez combined to throw the final 3 2/3 innings to secure the victory.
Bethune-Cookman starter Samuel Rodriguez was unable to retire a batter, allowing UM’s first four batters to reach base and eventually score in the bottom of the first. Reliever Roman Lancara suffered the loss despite allowing just two runs over the first four innings in relief of Rodriguez.
Neal Jones went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored for the Wildcats (14-7). Jose Ortiz also came away with two hits and six other Wildcats recorded a hit.
UM’s first four batters all reached base and eventually scored to put the Hurricanes up 4-0 in the first inning. Tekotte led off the game with a single to left and after advancing to second on a balk, scored on a Jackson single to right. Alonso followed with a single of his own to left, scoring Jackson who advanced to second on Rodriguez’s second balk in as many batters. Raben walked and joined Alonso as both scored on Hagerty’s two-run single to left.
Bethune-Cookman got all four runs right back in the second. Chris Brown led off the inning with a solo homer to left to put the first run on the board for the Wildcats. With two batters on, Neal Jones smacked a triple to right, scoring Emmanuel Castro and Justin Hoyte drawing the Wildcats within, 4-3. Jones tied things up, 4-4, when he scored on Mark Brooks’ groundout.
Hagerty broke the 4-4 tie in the bottom of the third with a solo blast over the scoreboard in left, putting the Hurricanes up for good.
Jackson led off the fourth with his second home run of the season putting the Hurricanes ahead, 6-4.
Miami added four more runs in the eighth to go up 10-4 before Bethune-Cookman plated their sixth and final run in the ninth to close the scoring at 10-5.
The Hurricanes and Wildcats will play the second game of their mid-week series Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at Mark Light Field. Sophomore right-hander David Gutierrez (0-0, 1.23 ERA) will make his first career start while Bethune-Cookman will counter with right-hander Felix Machado (2-1, 4.12 ERA).
Game Notes
-The Hurricanes set a new school record scoring in double-digits for six consecutive games.
-Ryan Jackson set a new career high in runs scored (3) and tied his career-best marks for hits (4) and RBI (4).
– Junior center fielder Blake Tekotte stole his 10th base of the season. He now is 10-of-11 in stolen bases.
– Sophomore catcher Jason Hagerty hit his sixth home run of the season, which now ties Jemile Weeks for the team-lead.
