No. 5 Miami Wins First Game One at No. 20 Clemson, 12-8
April 11, 2009
CLEMSON, S.C. – The fifth-ranked University of Miami baseball team took advantage of three early home runs and two four-run innings to take the first game of Saturday’s double-header against No. 20 Clemson, 12-8, at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
After falling behind 1-0 after one, the Hurricanes (25-8, 11-5 ACC) scored four runs in the second, one in the third, one in the fourth, four in the fifth and two more in the sixth to take a convincing lead over the Tigers (21-12, 9-7 ACC). The `Canes hit two homers in the deciding second, including a three-run blast by Dave DiNatale to straight-away center to break a 1-1 tie to put the `Canes up for good.
Seven of the nine hitters in UM’s lineup had at least one hit, including lead-off man Nathan Melendres who reached base in all five plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with a pair of walks. DiNatale finished the game 2-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored while Yasmani Grandal went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and three runs scored and Ted Blackman went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Chris Herrmann also plated three runs for UM, while Jason Hagerty had solo homer.
Miami starter Chris Hernandez (4-2) won his second straight start, allowing five runs on 12 hits while striking out four in seven innings. Reliever Travis Miller tossed the final two innings, allowing three runs – two of which were earned.
With runners on the corners with two outs in the bottom of the first, Jeff Schaus came across for the first run of the series on a successful double-steal.
UM responded in the following frame, scoring four in the inning to go up 4-1. Grandal got the `Canes on the board with a solo homer to right to lead off the inning. Herrmann followed with a bunt single and after Blackman doubled two batters later, DiNatale smacked the three-run shot to center, clearing the bases to put UM up three.
For the second straight inning, the Hurricanes led off the inning with a solo homer as Hagerty put Miami up 5-1 with a shot down the line in right.
A two-run triple to left by Ben Paulsen in the bottom of the third followed by an RBI single off the bat of Kyle Parker brought Clemson back to within one at 5-4.
A Scott Lawson RBI single in the fourth put the `Canes up 6-4 but Clemson got the run right back when John Nester led off the bottom of the inning with a solo shot to right-center.
Miami put up four more runs in the fifth to go up 10-5. The `Canes managed all of their runs in the frame despite only recording one hit. The first two batters in the inning – Grandal and Herrmann – were each hit by a pitch before an error loaded the bases. From there, another error, a walk, an RBI ground-out, a sacrifice fly and an RBI single in succession gave UM its largest lead of the afternoon.
Already up 10-5, UM added two more runs on an RBI single by Blackman in the sixth before Clemson added a run in the eighth and two more in the ninth to close the scoring at 12-8.
Clemson starter Casey Harman (3-3) lasted just two innings and suffered the loss, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out two. Matt Vaughn relieved Harman and allowed two runs in two innings before four more Tiger relievers went the rest of the way.
Schaus went 4-for-5 for Clemson, while Paulsen went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
The Hurricanes and Tigers will follow up the first game of the double-header Saturday night, 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. Right-hander David Gutierrez (2-3, 2.48) will take the mound for Miami while left-hander Chris Dwyer (3-2, 5.21 ERA) will go for Clemson.
The teams will wrap up the series Sunday at 1 p.m.
Game Notes
– Jason Hagerty extended his team-best hitting streak to 10 straight games.
– The Hurricanes reached double-digits for the 10th time this season.
– After not scoring in the first, UM scored at least one run in each of the next five innings.
– UM got the lead-off man on base in six of the first seven innings.
– The win for Miami was its 18th come-from-behind victory this season.
– All nine starters in UM’s lineup reached base at least once. Seven of the nine had at least one hit while five of the nine finished with multiple hits.
– The four-RBI game for Dave DiNatale was his first this season.
