No. 6 Miami Pulls Away From Saint Joseph's, 11-6
March 10, 2009
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Junior right-hander Michael Rudman tossed 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to win his second game of the year and six Hurricanes finished with multiple hits as the sixth-ranked University of Miami baseball team defeated Saint Joseph’s, 11-6, Tuesday night at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.
Rudman, who did not have a win to his record in 19 career appearances coming into the season, improved to 2-0 in three appearances this year after allowing just a hit and a walk while striking out three of the 11 batters he faced on the night.
Miami (11-2), after surrendering three runs to SJU (1-8) in the top of the first, scored four runs of its own in the bottom of the first, before plating two more in the second, one in the third and finally four in the seventh to put the game away. Trailing 7-3 after three, SJU scored three in the fourth to pull within one but Rudman and Taylor Wulf were able to keep the Hawks at bay. Wulf struck out two and did not allow a hit in 1 1/3 innings in relief of Rudman.
Scott Lawson and Dave DiNatale each recorded three hits for UM. Lawson finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored while DiNatale also went 3-for-5 with a homer and two runs scored.
SJU starter Randy Mower (0-2) suffered the loss, giving up seven runs – five of which were earned – on 11 hits in five innings of work. Mike Coleman led SJU at the plate with a 4-for-5 performance.
The Hawks’ first three runs came in one swing of the bat when Ryan McDonald hit a three-run homer to left in the top of the first.
The Hurricanes manufactured all of their runs in the first with two outs on the board. Harold Martinez brought UM’s first two runs in with a double to left, scoring Lawson from second and Hagerty from first. Chris Herrmann followed with a single to center, scoring Martinez before Yasmani Grandal singled in Herrmann two batters later to give the `Canes the early one-run advantage.
The `Canes added two more runs in the second, pushing their lead to 6-3. Both runs came across on an infield single by Jason Hagerty followed by an SJU error.
UM scored its seventh, and what would prove to be the game-winning run, on a DiNatale solo homer in the third.
The Hawks cut UM’s lead to just one run in the fourth, scoring three runs in an inning that featured two singles, two walks and a double.
The score remained 7-6 until the `Canes broke it open in the seventh, plating four runs – two on an Iden Nazario single and two more on a Lawson double.
UM starter John Housey allowed six runs on six hits in four innings of work before giving way to Rudman. Rene Guerra tossed a scoreless ninth to finish off the game for the `Canes.
Hagerty, Martinez, Herrmann and Grandal all finished with a pair of hits for UM.
The Hurricanes will now host Pitt Wednesday night at 6 p.m. before hosting Atlantic Coast Conference foe Duke for a three-game set this weekend at Alex Rodriguez Park.
Game Notes
– With Tuesday’s win, Miami has now won nine of its last 10 games.
– For the third straight game, UM’s bullpen did not allow an earned run.
– Tuesday’s game marked the fourth time in 13 games the `Canes reached double-digit runs.
– Junior right-hander Michael Rudman picked up his second win of the year (Prior to this season, Rudman had no career wins in 19 appearances).
– Junior Jason Hagerty made his first career start in the outfield as a Hurricane, starting in right Tuesday night.
– Freshman Nathan Melendres’ team-best 12-game hitting streak was snapped with a 0-for-4 performance.
