No 12 Hurricanes Sweep Great Danes

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami completed a three-game sweep of the visiting Albany Great Danes on Sunday morning at Alex Rodriguez Park, taking the final game of the series by a score of 12-5.

In a game shortened to eight innings by travel curfew, the Canes opened the scoring in the very first inning. Miami native and Hurricanes’ leftfielder Rony Rodriguez laced his fourth double of the season to left-center, scoring leadoff hitter Tyler Palmer. Albany would respond in the top of the second, however, as Paul DiResta connected on the first of his two homeruns on the day to tie the game at one run apiece.

Rodriguez jumpstarted the Canes once again in the third inning, as his sacrifice fly to centerfield scored fellow outfielder Dale Carey to regain the lead by a 2-1 score. Miami tacked on three more runs in the fourth inning, as Palmer crushed his first career homerun in orange and green with two men on base, increasing the Canes lead to 5-1.

After trading runs in the sixth inning, the Canes boasted a commanding 6-2 lead entering the eighth. The Canes looked to be in cruise control, as reliever A.J. Salcines pitched a perfect seventh, needing only 11 pitches to retire the side.

Sophomore lefty Bryan Radziewski, who rebounded after a tough opening start against Rutgers, gave up only two runs in his six innings of work. He notched four strikeouts before his departure after six innings, earning his first win of 2012 in the process.

The Miami bullpen endured a near collapse late in the game, however, allowing three runs in the top of the eighth to shorten the lead to 6-5. Javi Salas (0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R) was relieved by Eric Nedeljkovic, who registered the final two outs of a near disastrous inning.

But Canes’ shortstop Michael Broad, on a five-game hitting streak after Sunday’s 2-for-4 performance, tacked on three RBI in the bottom of the frame as insurance. Sparked by Broad’s bases-clearing hit, the Canes would bat around in what turned out to be the game’s final inning. Miami scored six runs in the frame, including an RBI single from Carey to increase the lead to 12-5.

After a strikeout from outfielder Corey Janson ended the eighth inning, the game was called to curfew.

Miami, undefeated through its first seven games for the first time since 2005, returns to the diamond Wednesday, Feb. 29 for a home battle with crosstown Florida Atlantic University. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.

GAME NOTES:

On a Tear
With his 2-for-4 performance on Sunday against the Great Danes, Michael Broad is now on a five-game hitting streak. He finished the Albany series batting a combined 5-for-10 (.500) with four runs and five RBI, upping his season average to .333.

Start It Off
Tyler Palmer has found remarkable success batting first in the order so far this season. The sophomore infielder, who transferred from the University of Florida before this season, has connected for one homerun, seven runs and six RBI in his time leading off for the orange and green.

Keep ‘Em Coming
Bryan Radziewski built on an impressive start to the season from the pitching rotation on Sunday against the Great Danes. With Radziewski’s win, starters have picked up victories in five of the team’s seven games this season.