UM Baseball Falls to Illinois State, 9-2

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Illinois State University scored seven runs over the course of the sixth and seventh innings in order to break away from the University of Miami, earning a 9-2 victory in baseball action inside Alex Rodriguez Park on Wednesday night. With the win, the Redbirds and Hurricanes split the two-day affair after Miami collected a 5-4 decision in 11 innings on Tuesday.

Miami (5-8) trailed 1-0 in the home-half of the fourth inning before scoring two men with the help of Harold Martinez – registering his first double of the season – bringing around Rony Rodriguez and Michael Broad for the go-ahead runs.

Hurricanes’ starting pitcher Steven Ewing kept his team within striking distance for the second consecutive outing on the hill, as the Orlando native tossed five full frames, allowing just one run on a single hit and recording a career-high seven strikeouts.

In the sixth inning, freshman Javi Salas toed the rubber for the Hurricanes, but he was unable to stop the Illinois State (8-4) bats that would come alive down the stretch. Salas would give up three runs in the inning, as the Redbirds used an error and three hits – highlighted by second baseman Bryan Huff’s two-run scoring single down the left field line that allowed Hollenbeck and Zach Amrein to put ILSU on top for good, 5-2.

ILSU scored four more times in the seventh as two Hurricanes errors and four Redbirds hits pushed the lead out to 8-2.

Another run in the ninth by Ryan Court on a bases-loaded walk issued by Adam Sargent brought in catcher-turned-pitcher Zach Robinson from the UMiami bullpen. Zach Robinson, seeing his first action of the year for the `Canes, drew a double-play and fanned one to get out of the jam.

Robinson finished with an inning of work and a strikeout in his collegiate pitching debut.

Illinois State was led at the plate by Hollenbeck’s three-hit performance, driving in two runs and scoring twice. Huff recorded four RBI with a hit in three official at-bats. Tyler McNeely went long for the Redbirds, posting his second home run of the year with a leadoff solo shot to left in the third inning.

Miami got a solid performance offensively from Zeke DeVoss and Chantz Mack, each finishing 2-of-3 on the night. Martinez and Michael Broad each collected a hit to round-out the Hurricanes offense on the night.

The winning pitcher from ILSU was starter Dan Savas, keeping his record clean at 2-0 on the campaign in a full six innings tossed, allowing two earned runs on five hits and recording six strikeouts. The loss went to Salas who dropped to 0-2 out of the bullpen for Miami, giving up three earned runs on two hits in just two-thirds of an inning on the mound.

The Hurricanes will be back in action Friday, March 11, hosting Virginia Tech for a three-game series at Alex Rodriguez Park in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both squads. First pitch on Friday is set for 7 p.m., while Saturday’s game will be carried live on television by CSS at 7 p.m.

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.

POSTGAME NOTES:

Tonight’s Starters
The University of Miami started Joey Porro at shortstop tonight, marking the first time sophomore Stephen Perez did not start for the Hurricanes. He had a string of 75 consecutive starts leading into Wednesday night’s game.

The Hurricanes started Zeke DeVoss (left field), Shane Rowland (catcher), Michael Broad (second base), Rony Rodriguez (designated hitter), Chantz Mack (right field), Harold Martinez (third base), Brad Fieger (first base), Dale Carey (center field) and Joey Porro (shortstop). Sophomore Steven Ewing took the mound as the starting pitcher.

Hits Go to Three
With six hits tonight, Miami has strung together three-straight games with at least six hits.

Zach Robinson Debuts Out of the Bullpen
Zach Robinson earned his first appearance of the season in the top of the ninth inning tonight, helping UMiami out of a bases loaded jam – not allowing a single run in relief of Adam Sargent. Robinson earned a strikeout in the frame as well..

Santos Cleared and Plays

Freshman outfielder Julian Santos saw his first action of the year after spending the first three weeks rehabilitating from an injury. He came on in the top of the eighth inning as a defensive substitute in center field. He later earned his first at-bat in the bottom of the ninth.