No. 15 Miami Drops Series Finale to Bethune-Cookman, 5-2
May 10, 2009
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman starter Ali Simpson allowed just one earned run in 8 1/3 innings of work as the Wildcats defeated No. 15 Miami, 5-2, in Sunday’s regular season home finale at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.
Miami (32-18) will now head to Winston-Salem, N.C. where it will wrap up its regular season schedule at Wake Forest, May 14-16.
Bethune-Cookman (29-26) scored its first four runs on home runs, with two in the first and another in the fourth. After plating another run in the seventh to take a 5-0 lead, the Hurricanes rallied in the ninth but came up three runs short.
David Gutierrez (2-6) suffered the loss for the `Canes, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out four in five innings of work. The UM bullpen kept the `Canes within reach as Daniel Miranda allowed one run in two innings before Kyle Bellamy tossed two scoreless to end the contest.
Simpson (8-2) allowed just one earned run on four hits while walking three and striking out five in 8 1/3 innings. Felix Machado relieved Simpson in the ninth and walked a man before Joseph Munoz got the final two outs to record his second save of the season.
Miami second baseman Scott Lawson went 2-for-4 on the day, including a double. He finished the series batting .455 (5-for-11) with four runs scored and two doubles. Ryan Jackson (1-for-4) and Jason Hagerty (1-for-4, one run) were the only other two `Canes to record a hit.
Emmanuel Castro went 3-for-4 with a run while Alejandro Sanchez (2-for-4) and Alejandro Jiminez (1-for-3) each finished with two RBI for B-CU.
Back-to-back solo homers by Peter O’Brien and Sanchez in the top of the third gave Bethune-Cookman the early 2-0 lead.
The Wildcats’ lead moved to 4-0 in the fourth when Jimenez smacked a two-run, opposite field homer to left-center, scoring Castro, who had walked to lead off the inning.
The Hurricanes loaded bases with one out in the night and after back-to-back walks put UM’s first two runs on the board, a double-play ground-out ended the threat and secured the series win for the Wildcats.
Following the weekend series at Wake Forest, UM will remain in North Carolina for the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, May 20-24.
Game Notes
– Scott Lawson’s 2-for-4 day marked his team-leading 18th multi-hit game of the season.
– With two scoreless innings logged Sunday, Kyle Bellamy extended his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 11 1/3 straight dating back to April 19.
– The Hurricanes went error-free in a three-game series for just the second time this season (vs. FSU, 4/3-5).
– Miami is now 19-3 all-time versus Bethune-Cookman.
– The Hurricanes finished the regular season with a 12-4 regular season record against teams from the state of Florida this year.
