Miami Hurricanes Defeat Florida Marlins in Exhibition Game

JUPITER, Fla. – Michael Broad became the first collegiate player to hit a grand slam off the Florida Marlins on Sunday, helping the University of Miami take a 9-8 victory from the MLB franchise in an exhibition game at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla.

Miami trailed 7-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning when the Florida Marlins’ Kroeger and Petersen scored on a Hayes triple to right field off Hurricanes reliever Zach Robinson.

In the top-half of the sixth, the bases were loaded for Michael Broad as Marlins reliever Hand walked two and Harold Martinez singled to start the inning. Broad appropriately unloaded the bases taking a 3-1 pitch to left field, cutting into the Marlins lead, 7-5. Miami added another run in the inning on a Stephen Perez run-scoring triple to left-center.

In the eighth inning, the score stood tied at eight before Perez walked and swiped second to get into scoring position. The Hurricanes’ right fielder Rony Rodriguez hit the game-winning RBI to right-center, scoring Perez on the play, giving UM the 9-8 advantage.

UMiami reliever Sam Robinson toed the rubber in the bottom of the ninth to close things out, relieving Sam Abrams who went 2 1/3 innings to earn the win, collecting three strikeouts.

Sam Robinson got the save with a strikeout of Petersen, and having Kroeger and Thurston to ground out to end the game.

The Marlins got a home run early in the game from Mike Stanton before he left the game in the second inning after straining his right quad. His date for return is not yet determined.

Miami was led at the plate by Martinez and Rodriguez, each going 2-for-4 with the bat, as well as Broad getting four RBI via his grand slam.

“That was pretty fun – a grand slam versus them,” Broad said. “Playing them, you’ve got to forget they’re major-leaguers and take it as a regular game. If you go out there thinking, `I’m facing a professional,’ you’re never going to win the battle

The Hurricanes will get back to the collegiate circuit on Tuesday, March 1, taking on USF at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa as part of the “Florida Four” showcase.

For ticket information to the “Florida Four”, please call 1-800-GO-CANES or visit Hurricanesports.com.

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.

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