Fifth-Ranked Gators Edge Out No. 10 Miami, 4-2
March 7, 2010
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Florida’s Bryson Smith hit a three-run home run in the top of the fourth which proved to be the difference as the No. 5 Gators defeated No. 10 Miami, 4-2, to clinch the three-game series Sunday afternoon at Alex Rodriguez Park.
For the second time in the series, the `Canes struggled offensively, collecting just four hits on the afternoon. Miami (7-3) had a 1-0 lead after three but was unable to bounce back following Smith’s homer the following inning that put UF (7-2) ahead for good.
The lone bright spot offensively for the `Canes was Chris Pelaez, whose average actually dropped from .593 to .581 despite recording half of UM’s hits with a 2-for-4 performance Sunday.
UM starter Eric Erickson (1-1) allowed two earned runs on five hits and struck a batter in 3 1/3 innings. Relievers E.J. Encinosa, Daniel Miranda and David Gutierrez limited the Gators to one run and four hits in the final 5 2/3 innings. Encinosa allowed one run on three hits and had two strikeouts. Miranda threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings and Gutierrez pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
Florida’s Tommy Toledo (2-0) won for the second time this season as he tossed five innings giving up two runs, one earned, on three hits. Toledo struck out four. Kevin Chapman earned his second save, pitching the final four scoreless innings and giving up just one hit. Nolan Fontana finished 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored for the Gators while Preston Tucker went 2-for-4.
The Hurricanes got on the board first win a lone run in the bottom of the third. After Nathan Melendres was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, a hard grounder by Ryan Perry got through third baseman Bryson Smith to bring Melendres around for the 1-0 lead.
Smith’s homer in the fourth gave UF its first lead of the game and forced Erickson, who was limited on a pitch count, out of the game.
With runners on the corners with one out in the top of the sixth, a sacrifice fly to right by Mike Zunino plated the Gators’ fourth run of the contest.
Miami scored its second run in the bottom of the sixth on Pelaez’s second hit of the game – a single to right that scored Stephen Perez.
The Hurricanes will make their second straight mid-week road trip when the team heads to Orlando to take on UCF Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. The game can be seen live on CSS in South Florida.
SERIES NOTES
– Chris Pelaez led the `Canes offensively in the series, going 5-for-11 with a homer, a double, three RBI and two runs scored. Pelaez had two multi-hit games against the Gators – bring his season total to five.
– Daniel Miranda (3.1 IP) and David Gutierrez (2.2 IP) each made two scoreless appearances, combining to allow just three hits while striking out six in six innings of work.
– Despite scoring nine runs on Saturday, the `Canes struggled offensively on the weekend, hitting just .181 (17-for-94) as a team.
– Pelaez, Nathan Melendres and Scott Lawson combined for nine of the team’s 10 RBI in the series.
