Feb. 25, 2006

Box Score

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) - Chris Perez struck out five to pick up his third save of the year and ensure Miami (7-6) of a 4-3 win against Bethune-Cookman (3-9) Saturday evening at Mark Light Field. The game was a continuation of Friday's contest, which was suspended in the seventh inning due to rain.

Perez also moved into a tie for ninth place on the all-time saves list at Miami with Mike Browning, Mike Gibbons and Luke DeBold, all with 11 apiece.

Miami starter Carlos Gutierrez earned his fourth win of the season and had a career-high nine strikeouts on Friday night before the rains came. R.J. Rodriguez (1-2) was charged with the loss for Bethune-Cookman.

The `Canes struck first in the bottom of the second, capitalizing on walks issued to Yonder Alonso and Tommy Giles. Eddy Rodriguez hit his third home run of the year to give UM a 3-0 lead early.

Jorge Mico hit his first home run of the year, a two-run shot, in the bottom of the fourth to bring Bethune-Cookman within 3-2. A throwing error by Gutierrez allowed another run to score and tie the game at 3-3.

Alonso walked again in the sixth and advanced to third on Danny Valencia's sac bunt and a wild pitch to Giles. Giles followed with a single to put the Canes up 4-3.

Gutierrez worked through the top of the seventh, putting down Bethune-Cookman's 7-8-9 batters in order before the tarp had to be put back on the field due to rain. The seventh- inning stretch lived up to its name, lasting 37 minutes before the game was officially suspended.

Notes: The suspended game was the first for Miami since the 1985 season when the Hurricanes defeated Virginia, 11-6, in the Coral Gables Regional.