Baseball Downs Jacksonville 13-3 To Even Series
May 5, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – University of Miami baseball team (37-12), ranked as third by BaseballAmerica and in the Baseball Weekly/ESPN Coaches Poll, defeated Jacksonville (31-19), 13-3, in front of 2,024 fans Saturday night at Mark Light Stadium.
Following Brian Walker’s departure due to a sore neck muscle after 2.1 innings pitched, three relief pitchers, led by Dan Smith (3-0) held Jacksonville to three hits and no earned runs the remaining 6.2 innings. Smith, following Chris Sheffield on the mound, went a career-best 4.0 innings with two hits, two walks and another career-best six strikeouts.
UM used an inspired offense of 13 hits and 11 RBI, led by multiple-hit efforts from four batters. Javy Rodriguez led the way going 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored, one RBI, one walk and three stolen bases. Kevin Howard, Danny Matienzo and Haas Pratt each had two hits. As a team, the Hurricanes out-hit JU 13-5.
The Dolphins opened the scoring in the top of the first as No. 2 batter Dale Johnson took a Walker first pitch over the left field fence for an early 1-0 lead.
Miami answered in the bottom of the frame, 3-1, scoring three runs on two hits, two errors and a walk. Marcus Nettles led off with a walk and stole his 30th base of the season to second. Mike Rodriguez then reached on a fielding error by the second baseman, allowing Nettles to move to third. Javy Rodriguez followed with an RBI single to left field scoring Nettles. Mike Rodriguez then came in on Howard’s RBI single to left field. Javy Rodriguez scored the third run, tagging up from third, on a failed pick-off attempt on Howard.
The Hurricanes broke open the game in the second inning, 10-1, with seven runs off five hits, three walks and one error. JU had replace starter Darren Truty (6-4) with Bryan Williams. Truty went 1.1 innings with four runs (two earned), three walks, one strikeout and a wild pitch.
Pratt led off the second inning with a walk and moved to second on Mike DiRosa’s sacrifice bunt. Nettles then reached with an infield bunt single, moving Pratt to third. On the same play, the second baseman committed a throwing error allowing Pratt to come home and Nettles to go to second. Mike Rodriguez followed with an RBI single to right field scoring Nettles. Javy Rodriguez put runners on first and second with a walk. Mike and Javy Rodriguez each stole second and third, respectively. Matienzo then hit an infield single at the third baseman to score Mike Rodriguez and move Javy to third. Kevin Mannix drew a walk to load the bases. Kris Clute followed with a two-RBI single to shallow centerfield scoring Javy Rodriguez and Matienzo. Pratt then hit a double to the gap in right center to score Mannix and pinch-runner Charleton Jimerson.
JU chipped into the UM lead, 10-3, with two runs in the fourth assisted by two wild pitches from Sheffield. Jarvis Fraser led off reaching base on a fielding error by the shortstop. B.J. Weed then drew a walk. Both runners moved over on a wild pitch. With one out, Johnson hit a sacrifice fly RBI to left field scoring Fraser. Another wild pitch allowed Weed to move to third just prior to coming in on Chad Oliva’s RBI single to left field.
UM extended its lead, 11-3, in the bottom of the fourth when Pratt singled in Matienzo from third with a shot to left field. Matienzo led off with a double to right center and moved to third on a Mannix ground out.
Jimerson put the Hurricane ahead 13-3 in the eighth with his two RBI triple to right center scoring Mannix and Javy Rodriguez.
With Nettles stolen base earlier in the first inning, UM now has three players with 30 or more stolen bases in a single season (47, Javy Rodriguez, 31, Mike Rodriguez). It marks the first time since the 1985 and third time ever (1982) that UM has had three or more players with 30 or more stolen bases in a single season.
The two teams will conclude the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game can be heard over the Internet at hurricanesports.com, as well as on the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM.
After the Jacksonville series, UM will return to action the next weekend with Florida Southern in a three-game series, beginning next Friday. All three games, as well as broadcast over the Internet at hurricanesports.com and WVUM, can be heard on UM’s flagship station, Sports Radio 560 WQAM. WACC 830 AM will carry the Friday game in Spanish.
Call 1-800-GO-CANES for ticket information regarding the upcoming final regular season games. 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.
