Baseball Hammers Rutgers 13-2
March 10, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team (17-4), ranked as high as No. 3 by Baseball America, used an all-around effort to defeat Rutgers (8-3), 13-2, to tie up the three-game series at one game apiece in front of 3,204 fans Saturday night at Mark Light Stadium.
The Hurricanes received zero errors from its defense, while allowing just two runs in the third inning. The offense put together 13 runs and 12 hits while chasing Rutgers starter Bobby Brownlie (2-1) off the mound. UM starter Kiki Bengochea (4-0) earned the win, going the first 6.1 innings of the game. The game was put out of reach with a four-run seventh and a six-run eighth by the Hurricanes.
Offensively, four UM batters had multiple hits, while three had multiple RBI. The UM base runners totaled nine stolen bases to zero for the Scarlet Knights. Marcus Nettles and Javy Rodriguez each had three steals apiece.
Miami opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, 1-0, when Javy Rodriguez knocked in Marcus Nettles from third with a sacrifice grounder to the shortstop. Nettles reached base on a fielding error by the Rutgers third baseman. After Nettles stole second, he took third on a failed pick-off attempt from Rutgers starter Brownlie.
Matt Wolski put Rutgers ahead in the third, 2-1, with a two-run home run off the left field scoreboard that also score Leon Shade. Shade reached base on a line drive single to right field.
The Hurricanes responded with the tying run, 2-2, in the bottom of the third when Nettles scored from third on Javy Rodriguez’ single to left field. Nettles reached base with a single to left, stole second and took third on Mike Rodriguez’ ground out to the first baseman.
Miami went up, 3-2, in the fourth off Danny Matienzo’s 405-foot home run deep to centerfield.
The Hurricanes went up 7-2 in the fifth, while chasing Brownlie off the mound after giving up four runs on five hits and one error. Javy Rodriguez led off the inning with a single to right field and then stole second. Following a Kevin Mannix strikeout, Kevin Brown singled home Javy Rodriguez with a shot to left field. Kevin Howard then reached on an infield single to the shortstop, moving Brown to second. Matienzo then scored Brown with a single to centerfield. Jim Burt then reached on a fielding error by the third baseman, allowing Howard to score on the play. Kris Clute took first on a fielder’s choice grounder that got Burt out at second and moved Matienzo to third. Nettles ended the scoring when he brought home Matienzo from third with a single to left field.
Brownlie, the 2001 Preseason All-American and BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year, wound up allowing 10 hits, seven runs (four earned), one walk with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings pitched. It was the first time in his four starts on the season that the he was chased off the mound. He was replaced with lefty reliever Tom Crohan, who surrendered the single to Nettles to score UM’s fourth run of the inning.
Bengochea left the game during the seventh in favor of reliever Luke DeBold. Bengochea had gone 6.1 innings with seven hits, two runs (both earned), one walk and five strikeouts in 98 pitches. DeBold struck out the final two batters to end the seventh, as well as the first two batters in the eighth. Alex Prendes came in and struck out the final batter in the eighth.
Miami put the game out of reach, 13-2, in the eighth scoring six runs on one hit, four walks and one error. With Jason Bergmann on the mound, Clute walked and stole second. Nettles then drew a walk. Mike Rodriguez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Clute then scored on a walk to Javy Rodriguez. Bergmann was replaced with Brian Winters. Winters began his stint with a walk to pinch-hitter Haas Pratt that brought in Nettles. Brown followed with a single to centerfield that scored Mike Rodriguez. Pinch-hitter Matt Dryer struck out. Pinch-hitter Greg Lovelady reached first on a fielding error by the shortstop, allowing Javy Rodriguez and Pratt to score. A wild pitch then allowed Brown to score from third and Lovelady to move to second.
Dan Smith came on the mound for the Hurricanes for the final inning and retired the side.
Miami and Rutgers will conclude the three game series on Sunday, March 11 at 1 p.m. at Mark Light Stadium. Sunday’s game will be broadcast over the radio on’s the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM, as well as over the Internet at hurricanesports.com.
Call 1-800-GO-CANES for season and individual game ticket information. To join the excitement, log on to hurricanesports.com and become a member of Hurricane Watch, the on-line loyalty program that allows you to purchase tickets on-line, transfer tickets to friends via email and earn Hurricane rewards for each game you attend at the Light.
