Erickson Pitches No. 1 Miami Past Saint Mary's, 5-0
May 3, 2008
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CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Sophomore left-hander Eric Erickson allowed just two hits in seven scoreless innings and junior first baseman Yonder Alonso hit his second home run of the series and his third in the last four games as No. 1 Miami shut out Saint Mary’s (Calif.), 5-0, Saturday night at Mark Light Field. Miami (38-5), behind Erickson’s best outing of the season, held the Gaels (22-21-1) hitless over the final six innings to win its 11th straight weekend series to open the season.
Miami’s three pitchers – Erickson, Kyle Bellamy and Carlos Gutierrez – combined to hold SMC to just two hits all night, the lowest hit total by a Hurricane opponent this season. Erickson struck out seven as he improved to 7-0 with the win. Bellamy and Gutierrez came on in the eighth and ninth innings respectively to preserve UM’s third shutout in the last five games.
Alonso finished the night 1-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored. He hit a two-run homer that scored Jemile Weeks for the second consecutive night. Ryan Jackson was the lone Hurricane with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with a double, a single and a hit-by-pitch and a run scored. Weeks (1-for-2) and Adan Severino (1-for-3) picked up UM’s other two RBI.
SMC starter Alex Schmarzo (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out one and walking five in four innings of action. Reliever Scott Schneider finished off the final four innings, allowing two runs on two hits. Kenny Fuglerud had the Gaels’ only two hits of the night, going 2-for-4 with a double in the first and a single in the third.
Miami got its first run in the second when Ryan Jackson scored from third on a wild pitch moments after leading the inning off with a double down the right field line.
Alonso’s second walk of the game led off the third inning. After back-to-back fly outs, consecutive singles by Jackson and Severino moved Alonso to third and then home, pushing UM’s lead to 2-0.
The Hurricanes scored for the third straight inning in the fourth when Dave DiNatale, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, scored from third on a line drive sacrifice fly to center off the bat of Jemile Weeks.
Alonso’s team-leading 14th homer came in the bottom of the seventh when he smacked a two-run shot to right-center to close the scoring at 5-0.
The Hurricanes and Gaels will conclude the three-game set Sunday at 1 p.m. Senior right-hander Enrique Garcia (3-1, 5.24 ERA) will face St. Mary’s Justin Kuks (0-3, 5.22 ERA).
Game Notes
-Sophomore shortstop Ryan Jackson hit his team-leading 16th double in the bottom of the second inning.
-Junior Yonder Alonso hit his team-leading 14th home run of the season with a two-run blast in the seventh inning. It was Alonso’s second home run of series and his third in the last four games.
-Sophomore left-hander Eric Erickson tied a season-high in innings pitched, going seven complete innings for the win.
-Miami won its 11th consecutive weekend series to open the season.
-Miami held Saint Mary’s to just two hits – the lowest for any Hurricane opponent this season.
-The shutout was UM’s third in the last five games and the fifth overall this season.
