No. 15 Miami Uses Long Ball in 12-5 Win Over FAU
March 31, 2010
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The 15th-ranked University of Miami baseball team used home runs by Yasmani Grandal, Chris Pelaez and Stephen Perez and at least one hit by the entire starting lineup to cruise to a 12-5 win over FAU Wednesday night at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.
After falling behind 3-1 after three innings, the `Canes scored multiple runs in each of the next four innings, including three in the fourth on homers by Grandal and Pelaez to put the `Canes ahead for good.
Miami improved to 17-7 overall with the victory while FAU fell to 15-9. The win was UM’s fifth straight win over FAU and ninth in the last 10 meetings going back to the 2003 season.
UM starter E.J. Encinosa (1-0) earned his first career victory, allowing no runs on two hits while striking out five in 3 2/3 innings of relief work. Steven Ewing struggled in his fourth start, allowing three runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings before turning it over to Encinosa. Travis Miller, Taylor Wulf and Iden Nazario each pitched an inning in relief to secure the win for Encinosa.
Five of UM’s nine starters finished with multiple hits. Nathan Melendres went 3-for-4 with two RBI, Grandal also went 3-for-4 with a walk, two RBI, two runs scored while Scott Lawson, Harold Martinez and Pelaez each had two hits. The multi-hit game was Grandal’s fourth straight.
Taylor Everist (2-5) suffered the loss for the Owls, allowing the three fourth inning runs while not recording an out in relief. FAU starter R.J. Alvarez turned in a strong outing – allowing one run in three innings of work – but was pulled on a pitch count. Reliever Hugh Adams also struggled, allowing three earned runs in 2 1/3 innings before three pitchers went the rest of the way for FAU.
Mike Albaladejo went 3-for-3 with three runs scored for FAU while Dan Scheffler had two hits and four RBI.
The Owls opened the scoring in the top of the first on a two-run double by Scheffler to left.
The `Canes got a run back in the bottom of the first on a Martinez RBI single up the middle but the Owls got that run back in the third on a RBI single of their own by Andy Mee.
The Hurricanes mounted their comeback in the fourth when a solo homer to right-center by Grandal followed by a walk and a two-run blast to right by Pelaez quickly put the `Canes up 4-3.
Miami added two more runs in the fifth on RBI singles from Martinez and Melendres to take the 6-3 lead.
Perez put Miami up by five in the sixth when he smacked a two-run blast to right-center, scoring Frankie Ratcliff who had doubled to lead off the frame. The `Canes continued their rally after the homer, loading the bases for Melendres, whose RBI infield single to second put UM up 9-3 after six.
The Owls scored two runs in the seventh on a single to right by Scheffler to cut UM’s lead to four but the `Canes responded with two more runs in the seventh and another in the eighth to close the scoring at 12-5.
Miami will return to action this weekend when it plays host to Wake Forest for a three-game ACC series beginning Friday, April 2 at Alex Rodriguez Park.
