Feb. 12, 2005

Complete Results

Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) - The Miami Hurricanes baseball team scored nine unanswered runs to overcome a 9-2 deficit and defeat South Florida, 11-9, in front of 1,958 fans at Mark Light Field on Friday night. Senior Brendan Katin crushed a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to put Miami up for good and move the team's record to 5-0 on the season.

Miami began its comeback in the bottom of the sixth. With runners at the corners and no outs, junior Ryan Braun blooped a fly ball to right that was misread by the Bulls' Bryan Hierlmeier. The ball dropped and Danny Figueroa scored from third. Sophomore Jon Jay ripped a single between second and third that scored Paco Figueroa. Braun scored on a single by first baseman Danny Valencia and the Hurricanes had cut the lead to 9-5 with no outs. A run-scoring sacrifice by Roger Tomas and RBI single by Katin brought Miami within two runs heading into the seventh.

Senior pitcher Vince Bongiovanni and junior Jon McLean combined to shut down the Bulls in the seventh and eighth inning. Miami creeped within 9-8 in the seventh when Jay brought Braun home from first with an RBI double to left field. Tomas led off the eighth with a walk before Katin stepped to the plate. The senior took the first two pitches for balls from Daniel Thomas and homered to left-center on a 2-0 pitch for a 10-9 lead. Danny Figueroa singled home Patrick Feeney for an insurance run and the final 11-9 score.

Sophomore pitcher Danny Gil needed only nine pitches in the ninth inning to pick up his first save of the season. McLean earned his first win as a Hurricane in 1.1 innings of work without giving up a hit and striking out one.

South Florida got off to a quick start in the first inning with a two-RBI double by Bryan Hierlmeier off Hurricane starter Brandon Camardese with no outs. Jeff Baisley popped out and Hierlmeier was doubled up on second when Matt McHargue lined out to Miami shortstop Tomas, who threw to a sliding Walter Diaz for the tag on second base to end the inning.

It didn't take long for Miami to answer. Danny Figueroa led off the Miami first and crushed a pitch off USF ace Casey Hudspeth over the center field fence to bring the `Canes within 2-1. Valencia tied the game with a sacrifice fly down the right field line that scored Braun.

The Bulls retook the lead on a bases-loaded single by Jeff Baisley in the fourth. McHargue followed with a bouncer up the middle to score Hierlmeier and Bellotti for a 5-2 lead. Sophomore Ricky Orta spelled Camardese on the mound and retired Brian Baisley to end the inning.

Orta was relieved by Bongiovanni after a bases loaded walk to Bellotti in the sixth that pushed the Bulls' lead to 6-2. Jeff Baisley followed with a bases-clearing double off the left field fence to stretch the USF lead to 9-2.

Katin, Danny Figueroa and Jay all finished 3-for-4 at the plate and drove in a combined seven runs. Braun finished with three runs and Valencia added two RBIs.

The Hurricanes continue the series with South Florida tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Mark Light Field.

Notes: Danny Figueroa's leadoff home run was the first by a Hurricane since Jon Jay led off against Florida on June 12, 2004 with a solo homer...Orta set a career high with 2.2 innings pitched.... The Hurricanes ran their home winning streak to 17 games.