No. 2 FSU Comes from Behind to Defeat No. 1 Miami, 9-5
April 19, 2008
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<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State’s Jason Stidham drove in three runs and finished 4-for-5 including a two-run double in the ninth as the second-ranked Seminoles (34-4, 18-2 ACC) rallied to even the Atlantic Coast Conference series with No. 1 Miami with a 9-5 win Saturday night in front of a record crowd of 6,789 at Dick Howser Stadium. Junior right fielder Dennis Raben and junior left fielder Adan Severino each homered for the Hurricanes (32-4, 16-2 ACC).
Yonder Alonso and Severino each went 2-for-3 with an RBI for Miami which didn’t reach double digits in hits for only the seventh time this season as UM finished with nine hits. UM starter Enrique Garcia (2-1) took the loss as he gave up six runs on nine hits and struck out five.
FSU third baseman Stuart Tapley added three hits for the Seminoles, who collected 14 hits. FSU reliever Jimmy Marshall tossed 2 1/3 innings after FSU starter Geoff Parker left after the fourth inning. Marshall allowed just one hit, walked two and struck out three. Parker threw just four innings and was knocked around for five runs, four earned, on eight hits. He recorded five strikeouts.
Stidham’s two-run double to deep center field added a pair of insurance runs for the Seminoles as FSU went on top, 9-5, in the bottom of the eighth.
FSU scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth off four hits and a Hurricane error. Tommy Oravetz and Mike McGee hit back-to-back singles with one out. Stuart Tapley then hit a ground ball that resulted in a hit and an error which brought in Oravetz tying the game, 5-5. Tyler Holt’s sacrifice fly gave the Seminoles a 6-5 lead. Stidham’s RBI single through the right extending it, 7-5.
Severino quickly put the Hurricanes back ahead, 5-4, when he led off the top of the fourth with a solo home run to right field.
FSU capitalized on three doubles from Jason Stidham, Posey and Dennis Guinn that eventually led to a tied game, 4-4. Stidham doubled with two outs. Posey followed with an RBI double pulling FSU within, 4-1. After Jack Rye walked, Guinn doubled down the left field line scoring two runs and getting the Seminoles within, 4-3. Delmonico then singled to right allowing Guinn to tie the game.
Raben’s two-run home run capped off a three-run first inning as Miami led, 3-0. Weeks hit a one-out single and after his 14th stolen base, he scored on Alonso’s RBI single up the middle for UM’s first run.
Miami tacked on a run in the top of the third. Alonso led off with a single and moved to third on an error. Sobolewski then hit a sacrifice fly to right field allowing Alonso to score to give Miami a 4-0 lead.
Miami and FloridaState wrap up their three-game series Sunday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. Sophomore lefty Eric Erickson (5-0, 2.84 ERA) will face FSU RHP Elih Villanueva (4-0, 3.33 ERA).
Game Notes
– Junior second baseman Jemile Weeks stole his 14th base in the first inning. He is now 14-of-15 in steal attempts.
– Junior left fielder Adan Severino recorded his fourth outfield assist when he gunned down Tyler Holt at second base in the third inning. Severino also hit his fourth home run in the top of the fourth.
– Junior right fielder Dennis Raben hit his fifth home run this season in the first inning.
