@CanesBaseball Sweeps Doubleheader with 4-1 W

February 16, 2013

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Behind a strong performance from junior righthander Javi Salas, the Miami Hurricanes completed a doubleheader sweep of Rutgers with a 4-1 victory at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.

After a dominant showing from sophomore Chris Diaz earlier in the day, Salas delivered a quality start of his own in the series-clinching win. The Coral Gables native went six innings, allowing only four hits and one unearned run. He finished the night with four strikeouts.

It was the Hurricanes who struck first in the nightcap, a rare seven-inning affair due to the rain-caused doubleheader. Miami registered four of their 10 hits in the first, including back-to-back doubles from senior Chantz Mack and freshman David Thompson, to jump out to the early lead. Dale Carey’s triple off Rutgers senior Tyler Gebler, which made its way to the wall in the rightfield gap, plated Thompson for a 2-0 advantage.

With two of the team’s top starters out due to injury, Salas, who served as the team’s midweek starter in 2012, stepped up in front of a crowd of 2,981 on a cold night at A-Rod Park. The junior retired his first eight opposing batters, working himself out of jams in the third and fourth innings to maintain the lead. A lone unearned run, which came on a passed ball in the fifth inning, cut the Hurricanes’ lead in half.

But the Hurricanes would respond with a run of their own, as junior infielder Alex Hernandez doubled to lead off the inning and later scored on a Thompson groundout. Another run in the sixth, this one on a sacrifice fly from Brad Fieger that plated Alex San Juan, gave the Hurricanes a late 4-1 advantage.

By game’s end, every Hurricane starter had recorded at least one hit, while San Juan recorded the first multi-hit game of his career with a 2-for-3 effort. Sophomore catcher Garrett Kennedy, who delivered the walk-off hit in game one, reached base three times Saturday night.

Freshman lefthander Thomas Woodrey entered the game in relief of Salas and recorded his first career save by pitching a clean final inning. The Lighthouse Point, Fla., native, who became the sixth Hurricane to make his debut Saturday, induced a groundout from second baseman Nick Favatella to clinch the victory.

The Hurricanes look to close out the sweep of Rutgers Sunday when they face the Scarlet Knights in a 1 p.m. matchup at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.