Weislow Wins it for Miami in First of Two on Saturday
Feb. 21, 2009
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Down one with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, senior outfielder Jonathan Weislow smacked a two-run single to center to give the 12th-ranked University of Miami baseball team a 4-2 win the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader against Rutgers at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.
The seven-inning contest remained close throughout as neither team led by more than a run until the deciding sixth. Miami (2-0) scored the first run of the game in third before Rutgers (0-2) plated two runs in the fifth. The ‘Canes then came alive in the sixth to secure their second win of the series.
Yasmani Grandal led off the sixth with a walk and after Ryan Perry came on to pinch-run and Harold Martinez popped out, Dave DiNatale smacked a double down the line in left to put runners on second and third with one out. The next batter – Jason Hagerty – struck out looking before Weislow’s clutch hit put the ‘Canes ahead for good.
Freshman Travis Miller, who tossed a scoreless inning in relief of starter David Gutierrez, earned his first career win. Gutierrez allowed just one earned run in five innings of work while striking out five Scarlet Knights before giving way to Miller. In his first opportunity as Miami’s closer, Kyle Bellamy came on in the seventh and retired Rutgers in order to earn the save.
Five Hurricanes had a hit, including Weislow, DiNatale, Chris Herrmann, Scott Lawson and Nathan Melendres.
Rutgers starter Dennis Hill lasted five innings before giving way to Kevin Lillis in the sixth. Before exiting, Hill allowed just one run on two hits while walking three and striking out one. Lillis suffered the loss however, allowing three runs on three hits in 2/3 innings.
Luis Feliz went 2-for-3 at the plate for Rutgers, while Pat Biserta drove in both runs for the Scarlet Knights.
Miami opened the scoring with a single run in the bottom half of the third. With two on and one out, Herrmann singled to center to score Lawson.
Rutgers took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth when a Pat Biserta single to center scored D.J. Anderson from third and Brandon Boykin from second.
Melendres added UM’s fourth run with a triple in the sixth, scoring Weislow.
The Hurricanes and Scarlet Knights followed up the first game of the doubleheader with the third game of the series Saturday night. The teams will wrap up the four-game set Sunday at 1 p.m. at Alex Rodriguez Park.
Postgame Notes
– David Gutierrez tied a career-high with five strikeouts.
– Chris Herrmann recorded his first career RBI as a `Cane in the third inning when his single to center scored Scott Lawson.
– Nathan Melendres hit his first career triple and UM’s first this season in the bottom of the sixth.
– Freshman Travis Miller earned his first career win.
– Junior Kyle Bellamy earned his first save of the season.
– The second game of Saturday’s doubleheader started at 7:12 p.m.
