No. 6 Miami Beats Pitt, 11-6, For Sixth Straight Win
March 11, 2009
CORAL GABLES, Fla. –Jonathan Weislow’s three-run homer in the fifth inning broke a 6-6 tie as the sixth-ranked University of Miami baseball team earned its third-straight come-from-behind victory in beating Pittsburgh, 11-6, Wednesday night at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.
For the third-straight game, Miami (12-2) faced a deficit of at least three runs only to come back behind big innings at the plate and near flawless relief pitching. Trailing Pitt 5-0 after 3 ½ innings, the Hurricanes rallied for three in the bottom of the fourth before a six-run sixth put UM up 9-6 after five.
Jason Santana (2-0) earned the win for the `Canes, allowing one run on just one hit while walking one and striking out two in 2 1/3 innings in relief. Behind Santana, three UM hurlers combined to keep the Panthers off the board from the sixth inning on. Travis Miller tossed two scoreless in the sixth and seventh before Rene Guerra and Kyle Bellamy each struck out two in an inning of work.
Down 6-3 to open the bottom of the fourth, Jason Hagerty drew a one-out walk before Chris Herrmann followed with a double to right. Hagerty scored on the play however, putting UM on the board as a result of a Pitt error. Two batters later, Dave DiNatale hit a deep two-run shot to right, scoring Herrmann to tie it up. Following DiNatale’s blast, back-to-back walks by Ryan Jackson and Yasmani Grandal set up Weislow’s homer to left on a 1-0 pitch, putting the `Canes up for good.
While only one Hurricane finished with multiple hits, five scored multiple runs on the night, with the `Canes recording nearly as many walks (8) as hits (9). Grandal had the best day at the plate for Miami, going 2-for-3 with a three-run double and the solo homer.
Pitt (4-4) received two strong innings out of its starter, Cole Taylor, before Ryan Dunford, Kevin Dooley and Mike Wood combined to give up 10 earned runs over the next four innings. Dooley suffered his first loss of the year, allowing five earned runs in just 2/3 innings.
Joe Leonard (3-for-5) and Nathan Hood (2-for-3) each finished with an RBI and a pair of runs for the Panthers.
Grandal opened the scoring UM in the fifth, hitting a bases-loaded double to right after three Hurricanes walked before him.
The Panthers scored opened the scoring in the top of the first. With the bases loaded and one out, a fielder’s choice grounder brought home John Schultz for the first run of the game.
Pitt added another run in the second when a Jackson error allowed Nathan Hood to score from second, pushing the Panthers’ lead to 2-0.
The Panthers scored three more in the third, capped off by a two-run double by Manoli Pahoulis before a solo homer in the fourth by Leonard put the `Canes down 6-0.
The `Canes will return to Alex Rodriguez Park on Friday for the first of three games against Atlantic Coast Conference foe Duke. Game one of the series is set for 7 p.m.
Game Notes
– Miami earned its third consecutive come-from-behind victory Wednesday night.
– Over the last 10 games, Miami relievers have allowed just four earned runs in 50 1/3 innings (0.70 ERA over that span).
– The Hurricanes have now won 10 of their last 11 games.
– Harold Martinez extended his current team-best hitting streak to six straight with a 1-for-3 performance.
– Wednesday night marked the second time this season the `Canes hit three homers (2/22 vs. Rutgers).
– Jonathan Weislow’s fifth-inning homer was his second home run this season that proved to be the game-winner for Miami.
– Miami’s 11-run performance marks the fourth time this season and the second consecutive game the Hurricanes scored double-figure runs.
– Yasmani Grandal now has a team-best four homers this season.
