No. 9 Miami Concludes Season Sweep of FAU, 11-0
April 7, 2010
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The ninth-ranked University of Miami baseball team used three-run homers from Yasmani Grandal and Scott Lawson to power past FAU, 11-0, Wednesday at Alex Rodriguez Park. Four pitchers combined on UM’s second shut-out of the year, including David Gutierrez’s four scoreless in his first start of the season.
Grandal finished 2-for-3 with the second inning homer, a walk and two runs scored for the Hurricanes (22-7, 10-2 ACC), who have now won seven straight and 12 of their last 14.
Gutierrez (2-0) – working on a pitch count – got the win for the `Canes, allowing just four hits in his four innings. Taylor Wulf and Sam Robinson each tossed two scoreless in relief of Gutierrez before Whaley came on the ninth to retire the Owls (16-13) in order.
In addition to Grandal’s night at the plate, Miami also got big performances from Frankie Ratcliff and Stephen Perez, who both reached based three times and each scored twice. Lawson’s fifth inning homer was his third of the year.
Kenny Gray took the loss for the Owls, hitting three of his first six batters he faced, while walking two more. Gray allowed eight batters to reach base before being pulled after 1 1/3 innings. Eddie Cassidy had a third of FAU’s six hits, going 2-for-3.
With the win, Miami has now won seven straight over FAU and improved to 47-8 all-time against the Owls. The `Canes out-scored FAU, 31-10, in three meetings this season after winning 12-5 last Wednesday in Coral Gables and 8-5 Tuesday in Boca Raton.
The Hurricanes opened their scoring in the first with four runs in the frame. Grandal was walked and Chris Palaez was hit by a pitch, each with the bases loaded to put UM up 2-0 before Nathan Melendres smacked a two-run double to give the `Canes the 4-0 lead.
Grandal’s three-run blast to deep right-center in the second followed by Lawson’s three-run shot in the fifth allowed the `Canes to cruise to the win, adding another run in the seventh on a Michael Broad single to close the scoring at 11-0.
Next for the Hurricanes is a trip to Blacksburg, Va. to take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in a three-game series starting Friday, April 9 at 5:30 p.m. at English Field.
