Orta Fends Off VCU as Hurricanes Claim 6-2 Victory
June 3, 2005
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Ricky Orta pitched six complete innings to pick up his first win since April 1, helping the Hurricanes snap a six-game losing streak with a 6-2 victory against Virginia Commonwealth Friday night in Game 2 of the 2005 NCAA Coral Gables Regional at Mark Light Field.
Orta tied a career-high with seven strikeouts and allowed just four hits and one walk as UM (39-17-1) advanced to the winner’s bracket behind a pair of solo home runs from Ryan Braun and Danny Valencia.
VCU (33-21) starting pitcher Harold Mozingo was charged with the loss, allowing five earned runs on six hits in five full innings of work.
The Hurricanes jumped on the board early, tacking on two runs in the bottom of the first. Danny Figueroa, who reached on a single, scored on Mozingo’s wild pitch. Danny Valencia and Paco Figueroa executed a double-steal of home and second base with two outs in the inning. Paco Figueroa stole home on Pete Farina’s throw to second, which was not in time, leaving Valencia safe and the Hurricanes with a 2-0 lead.
Miami came out swinging in the bottom of the third when Braun blasted a full-count solo homerun into the wind over the left field fence for his 17th homerun of the season. Two batters later, Valencia clocked his sixth home run of the season to give Miami a 4-0 lead.
VCU got on board in the top of the sixth when Sergio Miranda singled to right to drive in Joe Meador for the Rams’ first run of the game.
Eddie Rodriguez’s led off the sixth with a double to left field and was followed by a soft single to right by Walter Diaz. The Hurricanes extended their lead to four after Danny Figueroa’s base hit scored Rodriguez.
Paco Figueroa then reached on a fielder’s choice and an error on the throw by Rams’ second baseman Scott Sizemore allowed Diaz to score to give Miami a 6-1 lead.
The Rams threatened in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases with one out before Sizemore lined to Paco Figueroa for an unassisted double play to close the inning without a score.
Following two innings of relief work by Jon McLean, Danny Gil entered to close out the game, but not before giving up VCU’s lone home run of the game – a Barrett Ripley solo shot to left center.
The Hurricanes advance to take on Mississippi State, who downed Florida Atlantic,13-2, earlier in the day in Game Four of the 2005 NCAA Coral Gables Regional Saturday at 7 p.m. Virginia Commonwealth will take on FAU Saturday at 3 p.m.
