No. 18 Miami Falls to Rutgers in 10 Innings, 6-5

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The No. 18 University of Miami baseball team answered questions about how they would produce runs this season.  Unfortunately, so did their opponent, as the Hurricanes lost to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 6-5, in 10 innings on Saturday night inside Alex Rodriguez Park.

Miami (1-1) found themselves plagued by little mistakes – throwing three wild pitches, hitting five batters, and leaving five on base. However, offensively some of the same struggles that Miami saw the previous night were answered as the `Canes collected six hits (five of which led to RBI’s) and drawing seven walks, while allowing just one.

The Hurricanes jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as Michael Broad singled to center, driving in Nathan Melendres.  They extended their lead to 3-0 after Broad struck again, singling to drive in Zeke Devoss and Rony Rodriguez in the bottom of the fifth.

It didn’t take long for Rutgers (1-1) to respond, as they plated three in the top of the sixth.

Miami sophomore starting pitcher E.J. Encinosa, making the second start of his career, threw five hitless innings to start the game–allowing just one on base through five. However, the right-hander lost his momentum in the sixth frame as the Scarlet Knights tied the game at 3-all.

 In the bottom half of the inning, Miami regained the lead as DeVoss doubled for the third time this season, bringing in Cade Kreuter and Chantz Mack to take a 5-3 advantage.

Then in the top of the eighth, Rutgers responded to tie the game at five, and ultimately send the game to extra innings for the second night in a row. It was the first time Miami had gone to consecutive extra-inning games since 1993 against Florida State in Coral Gables.
 
In the top half of the tenth inning, it was a wild pitch that decided the game, as Chris Hopkins scurried in from third.  Miami threatened in the bottom-half of the frame when Michael Broad sent a shot to the wall in left-center, which ended up in a Rutgers glove, two feet from crossing the wall and send the game to the 11th, for the final out of the game.

Taking the loss for the Hurricanes was freshman Adam Sargent (0-1, 2.25 ERA), who was pitching his second game in as many nights.  Rutgers closer Rob Corsi (1-0, 0.00 ERA) got the win for the Scarlet Knights.

The rubber match will be tomorrow at Noon at Alex Rodriguez Park.  Miami will throw RHP Eric Whaley, while Rutgers will put RHP Nathaniel Roe on the mound tomorrow.

For more information on the University of Miami baseball team, please log on to HurricaneSports.com. To follow the UM Baseball Team via twitter, please navigate to Twitter.com/CanesBaseball. You can also access the official UMiami Baseball blog at TheUBaseball.com.

You can keep up-to-date with all UM Athletics via twitter at Twitter.com/HurricaneSports.  You can also become a fan of the `Canes on Facebook at Facebook.com/MiamiHurricanes.