Three Solo Blasts Give No. 9 Miami a 5-2 Win Over Bethune-Cookman
April 20, 2010
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The ninth-ranked University of Miami baseball team continued its recent home run barrage on Tuesday, hitting three solo shots en route to a 5-2 win over Bethune-Cookman on a wet night at Alex Rodriguez Park. The win was Miami’s fifth straight against a mid-week opponent and 13th win in its last 15 games overall.
In addition to solo homers by Yasmani Grandal, Harold Martinez and Ryan Perry, the `Canes (28-9) got 6 2/3 strong innings from David Gutierrez, who has won each of his first three starts this year.
Gutierrez (4-0) allowed two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out six before Sam Robinson got the final out of the seventh on strikeout. Eric Whaley then came on and tossed a scoreless eighth before Daniel Miranda picked up his third save of the year after a scoreless ninth.
Grandal finished the night 2-for-2 with the homer, a single, two walks and two runs scored while Martinez went 2-for-4 with three RBI. The Hurricanes have now hit 10 home runs in their last four games – adding three Tuesday night to the seven UM hit against UNC this past weekend.
B-CU starter Ramon Lancara (3-2) suffered the loss, allowing four runs in five innings before Justin Dahl and Chris Anselmo went the rest of the way. Peter O’Brien led B-CU (23-15) offensively, going 2-for-4 with a run batted in.
A two-out single to right by Martinez scored Frankie Ratcliff from third and Grandal from second to put UM up 2-0 after one.
Back-to-back RBI singles by O’Brien and Emmanuel Castro in the top of the third put B-CU on the board and tied the game up 2-2.
The ‘Canes re-took the lead for good in the fourth on back-to-back solo homers by Grandal and Martinez to lead off the frame. Grandal’s opposite field shot to right proved to be the game-winner, while Martinez’s bomb down the line in left was his team-leading 12th of the season.
Perry’s third homer in as many games – a line shot over the scoreboard in left – pushed the ‘Canes lead to three in the bottom of the sixth.
The Hurricanes will now turn their attention to No. 6 Florida State, who Miami will play in Tallahassee this weekend. Game one of the three game series between the Hurricanes and the Seminoles is slated for Friday, April 23 at 6 p.m.
