Suarez, Hurricanes Complete Series Sweep

February 17, 2013

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Andrew Suarez and the Miami Hurricanes finished off visiting Rutgers in impressive fashion Sunday afternoon, blanking the visitors in a 7-0 shutout at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.

After strong showings from starters Chris Diaz and Javi Salas in the team’s Saturday doubleheader, Suarez guided the Hurricanes to an opening series sweep for the second consecutive season. The Miami, Fla., native pitched five shutout innings in his first official start, scattering five hits and walking one. 

Despite a shaky first inning, Suarez would end a successful outing after 79 pitches on another cold day at A-Rod Park. He struck out three batters and walked only one.

The southpaw continued an impressive trend for the Hurricanes on opening weekend; missing two of their top arms due to injury, the Hurricanes’ starters allowed zero earned runs in 17 combined innings of work. As a staff, the Hurricanes allowed only two earned runs over three games, and none in the final two games of the series.

The Hurricanes jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning, as RBI groundouts from Chantz Mack and David Thompson gave the Hurricanes the early advantage. Thompson, who finished his first series as a Hurricane with five RBI’s, drove in at least one run in each of the team’s three wins.

That was all the Hurricanes would need. Suarez, making his first start after season-ending shoulder surgery last spring, allowed only four more hits – all singles – before his afternoon was finished. Senior Vince Kossak and freshman Frank Grandinette combined for four scoreless innings of relief, allowing only three baserunners the rest of the way.

Miami would add another run in the fourth inning, as Grant Heyman became the fourth rookie on the weekend to record his first career hit and RBI. His single through the right side of the infield, which plated Mack from his perch at third, gave the Hurricanes a 3-0 advantage.

A three-run seventh inning blew the game open for the Hurricanes, as an RBI single from Dale Carey and a two-RBI double from Brad Fieger gave Miami a decisive 7-0 advantage. The Hurricanes finished with double-digit hits for the second consecutive game, as Mack and Fieger both recorded their first multi-hit games of the season.

Good news continued for head coach Jim Morris and staff, as Ricky Eusebio became the fourth Hurricane on the weekend to record his first career hit – an eighth-inning single down the right field line. John Lawroski also made his Hurricanes’ debut as a late substitution, helping turn the game-ending double play at second base.

The Hurricanes travel to FAU for a midweek matchup on Wed., Feb. 20.