No. 11 Miami Clinches Series with Maryland Saturday, 6-4
May 1, 2010
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – No. 11 Miami picked up another Atlantic Coast Conference series win with a 6-4 victory over Maryland Saturday night at Alex Rodriguez Park. Starter Jason Santana tied a career-high with seven innings pitched, keeping the Terrapins off the board over his last five innings after allowing three early runs.
The win was Miami’s 10th straight against an ACC opponent at home. The Hurricanes (33-11, 17-6 ACC) have now won each of their four ACC home series this season.
Santana (4-2) allowed three earned runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out seven innings. Wulf tossed a scoreless eighth and Miranda allowed a run in the ninth but earned his fifth save of the season.
Stephen Perez had three of Miami’s nine hits, going 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Harold Martinez had two RBI on a pair of sacrifice flies, while Frankie Ratcliff had a hit and scored two runs.
Reliever Ian Schwalenberg (4-3) suffered the loss despite allowing just one earned run in four innings of work. Maryland starter Eric Potter did not factor in the decision, allowing three runs on two hits while walking four and striking out two in 2 1/3 innings. Alfredo Rodriguez had two hits for the Terps (15-32, 4-19 ACC) and Gary Schneider went 3-for-4 with two RBI.
The first pitch of the game by Santana was sent over the wall in left by Rodriguez to give Maryland a quick run.
Back-to-back walks by Ratcliff and Scott Lawson followed by a Yasmani Grandal RBI single and Martinez’s first sacrifice fly put the `Canes up 2-1 after one however.
Three second-inning doubles led to two more Terrapin runs as Maryland didn’t waste any time regaining a one-run lead.
Martinez’s second sacrifice fly in the third scored Ratcliff to tie the game up at three.
Miami then took a 4-3 lead in the fourth when a double-play grounder with runners on the corners scored Chris Pelaez, who had doubled to lead off the frame.
The `Canes added their fifth run in the seventh on a Maryland error and their sixth run on a single by Perez that scored Zeke DeVoss, who singled and stole two bases to set-up Perez.
Schneider hit a solo homer in the ninth to close the scoring at 6-4.
The two teams will wrap up the three-game set Sunday at 12 p.m. Left-hander Eric Erickson (4-1, 2.66 ERA) will toe the rubber for Miami, while Maryland will counter with righty Sander Beck (0-7, 7.84 ERA).
