Santana, Ramjit Lead No. 2 Miami Past FAU, 13-6
March 25, 2009
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Four Hurricanes drove in multiple runs – including three RBI from both Vickash Ramjit and Jason Hagerty – and Jason Santana improved to 4-0 on the season as the second-ranked University of Miami baseball team picked up a convincing 13-6 win over FAU Wednesday night at FAU Stadium.
Tied 3-3 after four, Miami (19-5) pulled away in the top of the fifth, scoring six runs in the frame to essentially put the game out of reach. On the night, UM out-hit FAU, 15-to-6, while the first four hitters in the Hurricanes’ lineup scored 10 of the team’s 13 runs.
For the second straight week, Santana (4-0) turned in a solid outing, allowing three runs on just three hits while walking two and striking out three in 5 2/3 innings. Sam Robinson, Michael Rudman, John Housey and Kevin Youst combined to throw the final 3 1/3 innings.
Ramjit, who had just six hits and two RBI in his career coming into the game, finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Scott Lawson finished the night 1-for-3 with two walks, two RBI and three runs scored while Chris Herrmann also scored three in a 2-for-5 night.
The `Canes didn’t waste any time getting ahead, scoring three in the top half of the first. UM’s first three batters reached base on a walk, a single and another walk before Hagerty doubled to right-center, scoring lead-off man Lawson from third and Ted Blackman from second. Two batters later, Harold Martinez drove in the third run with a single up the middle.
FAU (14-7) came right back in the bottom half of the first, scoring two runs on a William Block homer to left.
The Owls tied it up in the fourth when a Travis Ozga led off the inning with a double to center and later scored on a Jeremy Griffiths RBI groundout.
For the second time in the first five innings, the top three guys in Miami’s lineup got on base with no outs in the fifth. Lawson was hit by a pitch and Blackman walked before Herrmann loaded them up with a bunt single. Hagerty then re-gained UM’s lead with a four-pitch walk, putting the `Canes up 4-3. Two batters later, another run came across on a Harold Martinez groundout before Ramjit smacked a two-run single to right-center, putting the Hurricanes up, 7-3.
The `Canes added two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh while FAU scored its fourth run in the eighth and two more in the ninth to close the scoring at 13-6.
FAU starter Brent Adheen turned in his longest outing of the season, allowing six runs on six hits while walking three and striking out two in four innings of work. Chris Schmitt relieved Adheen and allowed three runs in just an inning of work while Nick Melendres – brother of UM outfielder Nathan – allowed four runs in 1 2/3 innings.
Block was the lone Owl with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Miami returns to Coral Gables this upcoming weekend for an ACC series against third-ranked Georgia Tech, March 27-29, at Alex Rodriguez Park. Game one of the three-game set is set for Friday night at 7 p.m.
Game Notes
– The Hurricanes now lead the all-time series with FAU, 42-8.
– UM also improved to 4-1 all-time versus FAU in games played in Boca Raton.
– Freshman Vickash Ramjit recorded his first three-hit game of his career.
– In the top of the seventh inning, Nathan Melendres pinch-hit for Ted Blackman and faced his older brother, Nick, a junior reliever for the Owls. Nathan proceeded to hit a 2-1 pitch off the wall in right for a double.
– The announced attendance of 1,682 was the third-largest crowd in FAU Stadium history. The only two crowds bigger than Wednesday nights both came against Miami (2,516 on Jan. 26, 2001 and 2,348 on April 17, 2008).
– UM held FAU to just six hits, tying the Owls season-low for hits in a game (at Florida, 3/4/09).
– UM’s 15 hits marked the 10th time the Hurricanes recorded double-digit hits and just the fifth time the team totaled at least 15.
– The first four hitters in UM’s starting lineup – Scott Lawson, Ted Blackman, Chris Herrmann and Jason Hagerty – combined for five hits, six walks, 10 runs and six RBI.
