March 3, 2009
Box Score
Rhode Island 3, Miami 0 
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - The eighth-ranked University of Miami baseball team lost its first mid-week game of the season, falling 3-0 to Rhode Island Tuesday night at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.
Rhode Island (5-2) was victorious behind eight shut-out innings from right-handed starter Eric Smith. Smith (1-0) held Miami (6-2) to just three hits while walking two and striking out five. Luke Demko came on in relief of Smith in the ninth, earning his first save of the season.
It didn't take long for Rhode Island to jump out to the lead. In the second, the Rams plated a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly and a single. The following inning, URI's third run came across on another sacrifice fly, closing the scoring at 3-0.
UM freshman Nathan Melendres was one of just three Hurricanes to record a hit. Melendres reached base twice, walking in the third and later singling in the ninth to extend his team-best hitting streak to eight straight games to open his UM career.
Fellow freshman Daniel Miranda made his first start and suffered the loss, allowing three earned runs in four innings of work. Two UM veterans - senior Jason Santana and junior John Housey - combined to throw five scoreless innings in relief. Santana allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out two in three innings of work, while Housey struck out three and held URI hitless over the final two innings.
In addition to Melendres, junior Chris Herrmann and senior Dave DiNatale each finished with a hit.
Dan Rhault and Jeff Cammans each finished the night 2-for-4 for URI. Rob DeVeney, Zoey Angulo and Mike LeBel drove in the Rams' three runs.
Miami will turn around and face Mount St. Mary's on Wednesday, March 4 at 6 p.m. at Alex Rodriguez Park.
Game Notes
- Freshman Nathan Melendres extended his hitting streak to eight games to begin his collegiate career.
- Freshman Daniel Miranda made his first career start for the `Canes.
- Miami was last shut out on March 24, 2007 at Virginia, 3-0, in the second game of a three-game series. The Hurricanes were last shut out at home on May 16, 2004 by North Carolina.
- The three hits by Miami against Rhode Island were the fewest by the Hurricanes since the 2007 season. UM had three hits in a 1-0 win against No. 11 UCLA at home and three hits in a 4-1 loss at Clemson that season.
- Junior John Housey - making his first appearance of the season - struck out the side in his first inning of work in 2009.
