Miami Drops Mid-Week Game to Ohio State, 7-1
March 24, 2009
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The second-ranked University of Miami baseball team dropped a 7-1 decision to No. 16 Ohio State Tuesday night at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field. After plating a run in the first inning, the Hurricanes were unable to get anything going the remainder of the night as three OSU pitchers combined to one-hit the `Canes.
The loss for Miami (18-5) was its first against a mid-week opponent since the `Canes fell 3-0 to Rhode Island on March 3.
Down 1-0 in the third, Ohio State (18-3) scored four runs off UM starter Daniel Miranda. Ryan Dew and Matt Streng got things going for the Buckeyes with back-to-back doubles. Zach Hurley and Cory Kovanda followed that up with back-to-back singles, putting OSU up three and forcing Miranda out of the game.
Miranda (1-2) allowed four runs on six hits while walking one and striking out one in 2 2/3 innings before exiting. Rene Guerra allowed two runs on two hits in 2 2/3 innings before Travis Miller tossed the final 3 2/3, allowing just one unearned run on no hits.
On just four days rest, Buckeye ace Alex Wimmers (5-0) pitched five no-hit innings, allowing one earned run on five walks while striking out two. Relievers Drew Rucinski and Jake Hale combined to hold UM scoreless over the final four innings.
Chris Herrmann (1-for-3) had UM’s lone hit, an infield single up the middle in the sixth.
For OSU, Dan Burkhart went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI while Michael Arp went 1-for-3 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored.
In the first, Scott Lawson led off with a walk and later scored UM’s only run after a pair of errors by Ohio State. The first three Miami batters reached base, but only Lawson was able to score as the Hurricanes left men on second and third to close the opening frame leading 1-0.
Up 4-1, OSU added two in the sixth on Arp’s two-run homer and another in the ninth to close the scoring at 7-1.
The Hurricanes, who left six on base on the night, were able to get the leadoff man on base in the fourth and fifth innings but were unable to convert.
The Hurricanes will make a short road trip north to take on FAU in Boca Raton Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. UM will then come back to Coral Gables for an ACC series against third-ranked Georgia Tech, March 27-29 at Alex Rodriguez Park.
Game Notes
– Tonight’s game was the first of 10 games over the next 15 days, including nine at home and one on the road (Wednesday at FAU).
– Miami was one-hit for the first time since May 15, 1999 at Notre Dame.
– Chris Herrmann’s sixth-inning single was UM’s lone hit on the night.
– Freshman Travis Miller tossed a career-long 3 2/3 innings.
