Miami Baseball Stumbles in Florida Four Showcase

TAMPA, Fla. – Andrew Longley singled up the middle to plate two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning as the University of South Florida defeated the 24th-ranked University of Miami, 4-2, at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. The game was the opener of the Second Annual Florida Four Showcase.

USF (3-5) put Sam Mende aboard with a leadoff single in the eighth, and moved him over via a sacrifice bunt on the next play. Miami freshman pitcher Javi Salas hit Todd Brazeal in the next at-bat for the Bulls, before he was later relieved in the frame by Sam Robinson.

Robinson was in for a situational purpose, pitching to James Ramsay, but put him on via a base on balls.

UMiami (4-4) closer Daniel Miranda toed the rubber for the remainder of the frame, and Longley scored a two-run single shot back up the middle for the winning runs.

Miami was held to just three hits through the first six innings as USF starter Matt Reed went seven frames, spreading out four hits, one earned run and one strikeout in the no-decision.

His counterpart, Steven Ewing, went 6 1/3 on the bump, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and fanning five before leaving without factoring into the decision.

With UM trailing 2-0 in the seventh, the Hurricanes got on the board when designated hitter David Villasuso scored Michael Broad from third on a sac fly to center field. The ‘Canes would knot the score at two in the top-half of the eighth, using a Nathan Melendres single to start the frame, followed by a wild pitch and a Zeke DeVoss sacrifice bunt to move the speedy Melendres to third. Shortstop Stephen Perez’s fielder’s choice allowed Melendres to cross and tie the contest.

USF began the day with a pair of runs in the second and third inning, as Ramsay and Brazeal each scored RBI singles for the Bulls.

The win went to USF’s Jimmy Moran who collected his first decision of the year out of the bullpen, while the loss went to Salas. Likewise, it was the first decision of the year for the Christopher Columbus High School alum.

USF was led at the plate by Longley with a game-high three hits, followed by Mende with a pair of singles.

Miami was charged offensively by Melendres’ two hits, while Brad Fieger, Harold Martinez and Rony Rodriguez all finished with a hit in the game.

The Hurricanes will continue their road trip on Friday, March 4, traveling to Gainesville to face the top-ranked and undefeated University of Florida Gators at McKethan Field. The Gators are facing the Florida State Seminoles in the nightcap of the Florida Four tonight.

Pitching rotations for this weekend’s series will be announced Wednesday morning.

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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