No. 8 Miami Cruises Past Mount St. Mary's, 14-3
March 4, 2009
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Freshman Harold Martinez homered, scored four runs and drove in three while junior right-hander Michael Rudman won his first career game as the eighth-ranked University of Miami baseball team defeated Mount St. Mary’s, 14-3, Wednesday night at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.
After Mount St. Mary’s (0-5) opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the third, Miami (7-2) scored all 14 of its runs over the next five innings to secure its first mid-week win of the 2009 season. The Hurricanes evened the score at 3-3 at the end of three, before plating two more in the fourth, four in the fifth, three in the sixth and the final two in the seventh.
Martinez finished the night 2-for-3 with a homer, a double, two walks, three RBI and four runs scored for the Hurricanes. Senior Dave DiNatale also homered and drove in three, finishing the night 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Freshman Vickash Ramjit – making his first start as a `Cane – finished a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored while Ryan Jackson (2-for-3, one RBI, two runs) also had a strong night at the plate.
Rudman (1-0), on in relief for freshman starter Kevin Youst, did not allow a hit in two innings of work, striking out four of the six batters he faced to win his first game in his 21st appearance on the mound as a UM pitcher. Four other Hurricane relievers – Travis Miller, Sam Robinson, Taylor Wulf and Kyle Bellamy – each pitched a scoreless inning after Rudman exited after the fifth. In Youst’s three innings of work, he struck out three and allowed just one hit while all three of The Mount’s runs that came across were unearned.
The `Canes out-hit the Mountaineers, 12-to-3, holding Mount St. Mary’s to just one hit over the first six innings of the contest.
After UM tied it up at 3-3, the deciding run came in the fourth when a Ramjit single to left scored Martinez from second. The next batter, Nathan Melendres, extended his team-best hitting streak to nine straight games to begin his collegiate career when he singled home Ryan Perry from second to put UM up 5-3.
Mount St. Mary’s starter Costa Kapothanasis suffered the loss, allowing seven runs on six hits while walking five and striking out three in four innings of work. Buddy Fields, Jacob Darr and Matt Staso had the Mountaineers’ three hits.
Miami will take Thursday off before opening Atlantic Coast Conference play at home this weekend against NC State. The Hurricanes and Wolfpack will open the three-game series Friday, March 6 at 7 p.m.
Game Notes
– Freshman Nathan Melendres extended his hitting streak to nine games to begin his collegiate career.
– Junior pitcher Michael Rudman earned his first career win at UM, allowing no runs in two innings of work.
– Freshman Vickash Ramjit (DH) started his first career game at Miami and finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate.
– Senior Ryan Perry (LF) made his first start of the season, going 1-for-3 with two runs scored.
– Freshman Harold Martinez became the first `Cane to score four runs in a game this season. Martinez, who has homered in two of the last three contests, now leads the team with 10 RBI this season.
– Miami’s 14 runs as a team marked the third time in nine games this season the `Canes scored in double figures.
