No. 1 Miami Edges Out No. 16 UVa In 10 Innings, 4-3
April 26, 2008
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CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. – Junior second baseman Jemile Weeks scored the game-winning run from third on a throwing error as No.1 Miami edged out a 4-3 extra-inning victory over No. 16 Virginia Saturday night in front of a sell-out crowd of 3,000 at Mark Light Field. Miami (35-5, 19-2 ACC) clinched its 10th straight series win this season and its first against Virginia (32-14, 13-10) since 2005 when UM took two-of-three over the Cavaliers in Charlottesville.
The win was Miami’s 19th victory over an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent this season, tying the school’s record for conference wins in a season since the team joined the ACC in 2005. The Hurricanes finished their inaugural season in the league with a 19-10-1 record.
Junior closer Carlos Gutierrez (3-1) earned the victory after tossing a scoreless 10th inning. Starter Eric Erickson allowed two runs on two hits while walking two and striking out five in five innings of action before handing it over to David Gutierrez for the sixth. David Gutierrez allowed one run on one hit over the next two innings, Kyle Bellamy held UVa scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings before Carlos Gutierrez came on in the 10th.
Mark Sobolewski finished as the only player for either team to record multiple hits, finishing the night 2-for-5. Yonder Alonso reached base three times, going 1-for-2 with two walks, two RBI and two runs scored.
Weeks led of the bottom of the 10th with a double down the line in right. After Alonso was intentionally walked, Sobolewski came to the plate with runners on first and second with no outs. Weeks and Alonso each moved up a base on a passed ball, putting both runners in scoring position. Sobolewski, needing to get just one runner in for the victory, hit a grounder to shortstop but the throw to first sailed high, allowing Weeks to come in from third to clinch the game and the series.
UVa starter Jacob Thompson lasted six innings and left with the score tied at three. He gave up just two earned runs on three hits but walked four and struck out three for the no decision. Matt Packer tossed three effective innings in relief, allowing just one unearned run before Michael Schwimer (5-2) suffered the loss in the 10th.
The Cavaliers managed to get four hits with Greg Miclat, Jeremy Farrell, David Coleman and Jarrett Parker each picking up one.
Alonso’s homer in the first put UM up 2-0. Weeks drew a one-out walk before Alonso smacked his 12th homer of the season with a deep shot just to the right of the batters eye in center.
The Hurricanes pushed their lead to 3-0 in the third when Alonso, who had walked and advanced to third on a Sobolewski single, scored again on a passed ball.
Virginia got two runs back in the fifth to cut the UM lead to 3-2. Farrell led off the inning with his team-leading eighth home run with a shot to left-center, cutting the Hurricane lead to 3-1. Later in the inning, Parker’s RBI single scored John Barr, who had walked after Farrell’s homer, to bring the Cavaliers within one.
UVa evened the score at 3-3 with another run in the sixth. After David Adams walked, he advanced to third on a stolen base and a throwing error by the catcher before a sacrifice fly line-out to left by Dan Grovatt scored him from third.
The final game of the three-game series is slated for Sunday at 12 p.m. The game, which will be televised live by CSS, will feature senior right-hander Enrique Garcia (2-1, 6.18 ERA) against Virginia right-hander Andrew Carraway (3-2, 2.82 ERA).
Game Notes
-The win for Miami was its 19th victory over an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent, tying the school’s record for conference wins in a season since joining the ACC in 2005. UM finished its inaugural season with a record of 19-10-1.
-Mark Light Field sold out for the ninth time this season.
-Miami improved to 3-0 in extra-innings contest this season. Tonight’s win was Miami’s third walk-off win this season.
-Junior first baseman Yonder Alonso hit his team-leading 12th home run of the season in the first inning moving him into a tie for 6th-place in school history for career home runs (40). He also moved into 10th-place all-time in career walks with 145.
