No. 4 Miami Eases Past St. Thomas, 8-0
March 17, 2009
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Freshman starter Daniel Miranda tossed six scoreless innings to earn his first career win and junior shortstop Ryan Jackson hit his first two homers of the season as the fourth-ranked University of Miami baseball team eased past cross-town foe St. Thomas, 8-0, Tuesday night at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.
Making his third start of the season, Miranda (1-1) allowed just four hits while striking out five in keeping Bobcats off the board in a career-long outing. Rudman earned his first career save and the team’s first three-inning save of the season, holding the Bobcats hitless while striking out three in the final three frames. Miranda and Rudman combined to retire STU in order from the fourth inning on.
Jackson finished the night 2-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored. Scott Lawson, batting lead-off for the first time as a `Cane, went 2-for-4 with two runs on the night while Vickash Ramjit also finished 2-for-4.
Miami improved to 15-3 overall while St. Thomas drops to 9-18.
For the first time in seven games, the Hurricanes were able to get on the board before their opponent, going up 2-0 in the first on Jackson’s first homer – a two-run blast down the line in left.
UM’s third run came across in the second when a Jonathan Weislow fielder’s choice grounder scored Yasmani Grandal, who had doubled earlier in the inning, from third.
Chris Herrmann’s solo homer in the fifth made it 4-0 and from there, the `Canes added single runs in the sixth and seventh before scoring two in the eighth to close the scoring at 8-0.
STU starter Daylan Gil allowed three runs on five hits in four innings of work before giving way Jose Mendoza in the fifth. Mendoza allowed two in three relief innings before Wesley Morejon and Robert Reina combined to toss the eighth.
The `Canes will play the final game of their 12-game homestand on Wednesday when they play host to UMBC at 6 p.m.
Game Notes
– For the first time in seven games, UM scored before its opponent, plating two runs in the first to go up 2-0.
– Junior shortstop Ryan Jackson recorded his first multiple home run game of his career. He hit his first homer of the season in the bottom of the first and capped off his night with a two-run shot to left field in the bottom of the eighth. Junior catcher Jason Hagerty was the last Hurricane to homer twice in a game. He blasted a pair against Rutgers on Feb. 27, 2009.
– Freshman catcher David Villasuso recorded his first career hit in the bottom of the eighth. Villasuso singled to left field with two outs.
– Junior right-hander Michael Rudman earned his first career save and Miami’s first three-inning save of the season. Rudman pitched three innings of perfect baseball as he did not allow a run or hit while striking out three batters.
– Freshman lefty Daniel Miranda won his first game as a Hurricane. Miranda allowed just four hits in six innings and struck out five. He did not allow a walk.
– Freshman Vickash Ramjit started at first base for the first time in his UM career.
– Miami wore a special St. Patrick’s Day hat and improved to 24-10 all-time on March 17.
