Feb. 28, 2004

Final Stats

HOMESTEAD, Fla. - The University of Miami baseball team pummeled LaSalle 17-0 in front of 2,136 fans at the Homestead Sports Complex in the Papa John's Homestead Challenge on Saturday night.

The Hurricanes improve to 6-3 on the season and have now won two straight. The Explorers fall to 1-1-1 on the season.

Brandon Camardese improved to 2-0 on the season, scattering three hits over five innings and striking out two. Marcelo Albir, George Huguet, Ricky Orta and Alex Blanco would all pitch one inning in relief, combining to allow only one hit, while striking out six Explorers.

Huguet's appearance was his first of the season after missing the first eight games with pneumonia. He retired the side in order and struck out two in the seventh inning.

Jim Burt tied his career high with four hits, while also driving in five runs, including his second home run of the season. Brendan Katin had his second straight big night, collecting three hits, including his second home run (a grand slam), a triple, a double and four RBI.

The Hurricanes opened the scoring in the first inning on an RBI double off the bat of Burt. The double scored Joey Hooft, who had drawn a walk earlier in the inning.

Katin would hit his second prodigious home run in as many nights with a grand slam down the left-field line in the Hurricanes five-run third inning. The junior college transfer increased his RBI total to seven on the season. Freshman Eddy Rodriguez, making his first career start, then added a sacrifice fly to center field. Rodriguez drove in three runs on the night.

Burt connected for his second home run of the season in the fourth inning with an opposite field shot to right. The two-run shot scored Ryan Braun who had singled to lead off the inning. Braun would promptly steal second and third base before Burt's home run.

Braun's three stolen bases against LaSalle marked the first time a Hurricane had stolen three bases since Danny Figueroa swiped three bases against Pace on May 4, 2003.

In all, Miami would score eight runs on four hits and one LaSalle error in the fourth inning to extend UM's lead to 14-0. The Hurricanes would tack on one run in the fifth inning and two more in the seventh inning for the final score.

The Hurricanes return home on Sunday, Feb. 29, for a 7 p.m. showdown with 25th-ranked Minnesota at Mark Light Field.