Canes Baseball Defeats Miami Dade in Exhibition Game, 5-2
Nov. 11, 2011
Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Press Conference
Coral Gables, Fla. – University of Miami starting pitcher Eric Whaley and reliever Eric Erickson each tossed three innings Friday night, allowing just a single run on three combined hits to defeat Miami Dade College, 5-2, in an exhibition game played at Alex Rodriguez Park.
The pitching for the Hurricanes was the highlight of the night as Erickson was named Most Valuable Player after tossing three frames and giving up just a single hit and striking out three batters.
Miami Dade got on the board first in the second inning as the Shark’s designated hitter Jacob Bogaards took a 1-1 Whaley pitch to deep right center for the only home run of the game for either squad.
The Canes answered back in the home-half of the third when freshman shortstop Jarred Mederos tripled to right center off Miami Dade reliever Tyler Bowditch. That allowed the Canes to knot the score at 1-1 courtesy a RBI ground-out to second by junior catcher Alex San Juan.
UMiami went ahead for good in the fifth as the Canes plated three runs to break open the contest.
Miami Dade sent Michael Heller to the mound to begin the frame before a furious two-out rally ensued for the Hurricanes.
San Juan singled to right, followed by a walk issued to sophomore third baseman Tyler Palmer. Both runners would advance a play later on a throwing error charged to Miami Dade catcher Daniel DeLaCalle attempting to catch San Juan stealing third. Dale Carey would hit a line shot to third base that would go down as an error, allowing San Juan and Palmer to score easily on the play.
With UM leading 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth, the Hurricanes tacked on another run via senior Rony Rodriguez’s RBI double to right center to score Carey on the play for the 4-1 advantage.
UMiami added another late run in the sixth when Palmer’s single to short plated junior outfielder Chantz Mack who reached earlier in the frame with a single to right.
The Sharks scored their final run in the eighth when centerfielder Eric Jhones scored an unearned run off a UMiami error charged to the infield on a shot by leadoff hitter Carlos Matamoros. That brought the final score to 5-2.
The Canes got a good offensive performance from leadoff hitter Palmer who was 2-for-4 with a run scored, a RBI and drew a walk. First baseman Esteban Tresgallo picked up a hit, as well as Mederos and San Juan in their UM debut.
UMiami junior closer E.J. Encinosa closed out the game in the ninth with an inning of action and no hits allowed. Sophomore reliever AJ Salcines also tossed a frame, allowing just a single hit, as well as newcomer Eric Nedeljkovic with an inning on the bump giving up an unearned run and one hit.
Erickson picked up the win, while Encinosa earned the save for the Canes. The loss went to Miami Dade’s Bowditch.
Miami Dade was led at the plate by Bogaards with two hits and a RBI, as well as Jhones with a pair of hits.
UMiami returns to the diamond Saturday, Nov. 12 when the Hurricanes host the Canadian Junior National Team inside Alex Rodriguez Park at 6 p.m. Admission is free and all fans are invited to attend.
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