No. 5 Miami Drops Rubber Game at No. 20 Clemson, 9-6
April 12, 2009
CLEMSON, S.C. – The fifth-ranked University of Miami baseball team dropped the rubber game of a three-game series at No. 20 Clemson, 9-6, Sunday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. After jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first, Clemson scored eight runs over the next three innings to pull away for the series-clinching win.
Miami falls to 25-10 overall and 11-7 in Atlantic Coast Conference play with the loss while Clemson improves to 23-12 and 11-7 in league play.
After Miami plated two runs in the first on a Yasmani Grandal double, the Tigers broke the game open, scoring three runs in the second, three in the third and two more in the fourth to take a six-run lead.
Iden Nazario (4-1) suffered his first loss of the season, allowing six runs on six hits while walking two and striking out two in just 2 2/3 innings of work. Daniel Miranda came on in relief of Nazario and allowed three runs in 1 2/3 innings before Sam Robinson, Rene Guerra and Kyle Bellamy combined to hold the Tigers scoreless over the final 3 2/3 innings.
Chris Herrmann led the `Canes going 3-for-4 with three runs scored while Harold Martinez went 2-for-4 with three RBI.
Clemson starter Justin Sarratt lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits while walking one and striking out two. Graham Stoneburner (4-3) earned the win for Clemson, allowing one run in 1 1/3 innings.
Wilson Boyd and Matt Sanders each finished with three hits for Clemson. Boyd went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored while Sanders also went 3-for-4 but had four RBI and two runs.
For the first time in the series, Miami was able to get on the board first, scoring the two runs in the top of the first. The two-out rally started with a Jason Hagerty single before a wild pitch advanced him to second. After Herrmann walked to put runners on first and second, Grandal hit a double to deep left-center, plating both runners to put the `Canes up two.
It didn’t take long for Clemson to take the lead for good however. With two on and two outs in the bottom of the second, Matt Sanders hit a three-run homer to right-center to put the Tigers up 3-2 after two.
Clemson went up 6-2 the next inning, scoring runs on a triple down the line in right, a ground-out to short and a single to center.
UM got one run back in the fourth. Herrmann led off the inning with a double and after moving to third on a ground-out, scored on a Martinez sacrifice fly to right.
Clemson responded with two more in the bottom of the fourth, going up 8-3.
The Hurricanes rallied in the fifth, scoring a run on a Hagerty sacrifice fly and then loading the bases with one out but a double-play grounder by Martinez got Clemson out of the jam.
For the fourth straight inning, the Tigers plated at least one run, going up 9-4 in the fifth on an RBI single.
The `Canes loaded the bases again with one out in the seventh for Martinez, this time he singled to center, scoring two to bring the `Canes within three.
UM tried to mount a two-out rally in the ninth, loading the bases with a pair of singles and a walk but Cruz got out of the jam, forcing a pop-up to short.
The Hurricanes will return to Alex Rodriguez Park for a mid-week game against FAU on Tuesday before making its second straight ACC road trip to North Carolina next weekend, April 17-19.
Game Notes
– Freshman Thomas Powers started the first game of his UM career, batting ninth and playing shortstop. Regular shortstop Ryan Jackson missed his first game of the season with an injury.
– Starter Iden Nazario lasted just 2 2/3 innings – his shortest outing of the season.
– Nazario’s loss was just his first in eight starts this season.
– Jason Hagerty extended his team-best hitting streak to 12 straight games with a single in the first inning. The 12-game hitting streak matches the longest by a `Cane this year, after Nathan Melendres opened the season recording a hit in each of his first 12 career games.
Series Notes
– The series loss for Miami was just its second this season.
– Chris Herrmann led UM at the plate in the series, going 5-for-8 (.625) with a team-high six runs scored.
– Yasmani Grandal and Dave DiNatale both hit over .300 and combined for seven of UM’ 18 RBI on the weekend.
– Sam Robinson made two appearances in relief, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out three in a combined 3 2/3 innings.
– After going 1-2 this weekend, Miami now leads the all-time series with Clemson, 28-24-1.
