Baseball Captures Win in Annual Alumni Game
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes topped a team comprised of former Hurricanes in the annual Alumni Game Saturday night, capturing a 4-1 win at Mark Light Field.
Over 50 University of Miami baseball alumni were introduced during pregame ceremonies, including 88 year-old Larry Adams (1948 team member), current Major Leaguer Baseball players Jon Jay & Yonder Alonso, and eight members of the 2014 ACC Regular Season Champion Hurricanes: Dale Carey, Chris Diaz, Brad Fieger, Alex Hernandez, Tyler Palmer, Bryan Radziewski, Javi Salas and Adam Sargent.
“It’s great to see these guys back. It’s always fun to see what they’re doing, how they’re doing, and I appreciate them coming back and playing the game,” head coach Jim Morris said. “Some of these guys haven’t played in a long time, most of them since last year’s Alumni Game.”
After Boston Red Sox’ prospect Chris Hernandez opened the game with a scoreless first inning for the Alumni, the Hurricanes struck for a run in the second on a wild pitch that plated David Thompson. The Alumni wasted little time in responding, however, as a sacrifice fly from Carey scored a run in the top half of the third inning.
But Hurricanes starter Enrique Sosa avoided any further damage, inducing a double play from former teammate Chantz Mack (Seattle Mariners organization) to end the inning.
Sosa tossed five innings Saturday, scattering four hits and one unearned run. Relievers Bryan Garcia, Cooper Hammond, Michael Mediavilla and Ryan Otero closed out the game by pitching one scoreless inning apiece.
Kris Clute, who played on the 1999 and 2001 National Championship teams, was one of the Alumni’s top performers Saturday night with two hits and a steal. “Downtown” Kevin Brown started at first base and also had a number of impressive plays.
“A lot of these guys play every year, which is great. It’s fun to watch them play. Klute had a good game – he had a couple hits, had a stolen base. I have to live with that until the next Alumni Game. Brown drove all the way from Fort Myers, and was going to play as many innings as they let them – which was all of them.”
Miami went ahead for good in the fourth, as Thompson plated another run on a failed pick-off attempt of junior infielder George Iskenderian at second base. Iskenderian, who reached second on the paly, would score on another wild pitch to put Miami ahead 4-1 in the fifth.
A number of Hurricanes made their debuts Saturday: Carl Chester, Malik Rosier, Justin Smith, Iskenderian and Mediavilla. Senior Garrett Kennedy paced the offense with a 2-for-3 performance.
Miami had three errors defensively, while the offense scored four runs on seven hits.
“That’s the reason I like this game, it gives you plenty to work on,” Morris said.
The Hurricanes will open their 2015 season Friday, Feb. 13 against Rutgers. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. from Mark Light Field.
