Gutierrez's Complete Game Shutout Keeps Miami Alive, 4-0
May 31, 2009
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Junior right-hander David Gutierrez tossed a complete game shutout as No. 2 seed Miami advanced to the NCAA Gainesville Regional Championship Game with a 4-0 win over third-seeded Jacksonville Sunday afternoon at McKethan Stadium.
Miami (38-21) will now face No. 1 seed Florida Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. If the Hurricanes win Sunday night against the Gators, UM and UF will play again on Monday to decide the Regional Championship. Sunday night’s game will be televised live on Sun Sports.
Gutierrez (4-6) set career-highs in innings pitched and strikeouts. He scattered seven hits and struck out eight while walking just two. He didn’t allow a baserunner past second base the final eight innings. The complete game shutout was the first for the Hurricanes since Cesar Carillo accomplished the feat on March 31, 2005 against Oral Roberts.
Harold Martinez led the Hurricanes at the plate going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Jason Hagerty added RBI, reached base three times, and was one of five Hurricanes with one hit.
Jacksonville starter Sean Green (3-3) struck out six in 4 1/3 innings. He allowed three unearned runs in suffering the loss. Kyle Fleming went 2-for-4 for the Dolphins, who end their season 37-22.
A Jacksonville throwing error led to the Hurricanes’ first run. After a Ted Blackman single and Martinez walked, a failed pickoff attempt by the catcher allowed Blackman to score, making it 1-0 in the top of the second.
Back-to-back throwing errors in the top of the fifth led to Miami’s second run. Nathan Melendres reached second on the first error and Scott Lawson’s sacrifice bunt attempt induced another error allowing Melendres to score for a 2-0 Miami lead. Hagerty’s RBI single provided UM’s third run.
Martinez’s RBI double with two outs in the top of the eighth brought around Dave DiNatale – who also had doubled – putting Miami ahead, 4-0.
Game Notes
– Junior right-hander David Gutierrez set career-highs with eight strikeouts and nine innings pitched. His complete game-shutout was the first for the Hurricanes since Cesar Carillo did it back on Mar. 31, 2005 against Oral Roberts.
– The start for Gutierrez was his first since a May 10 start against Bethune-Cookman.
– Senior right fielder Dave DiNatale hit his 15th double of the season in the top of the eighth.
– The shut-out for Miami was its third this season.
