March 4, 2008

Box Score

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Junior second baseman Jemile Weeks and freshman designated hitter Joey Terdoslavich combined for five hits and four RBI to lead a 14-hit attack and junior right-hander Jason Santana turned in another strong pitching performance as No. 6 Miami (6-1) won its first regular season midweek contest, 9-2, over Lehigh (4-6) Tuesday night at Mark Light Field. Weeks went 3-for-5 with two runs and a career-high three stolen bases while Terdoslavich finished 2-for-4 with three RBI including his first career home run.

The Hurricanes pounded out a season-high 14 hits and four pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts. Santana (2-0) earned the win in his first start of the season and just the fourth of his career for the Hurricanes. He allowed two runs on four hits while striking out three in 5 1/3 innings of work. Freshman Iden Nazario, sophomore Anthony Nalepa and sophomore John Housey combined to throw the final 3 2/3 innings, allowing just one hit while striking out eight. Nazario tossed 1 2/3 innings and struck out four. Nalepa struck out the side in his first inning of the season while Housey pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

Yonder Alonso went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored and Blake Tekotte finished 2-for-4 with two runs for the Hurricanes. Ryan Jackson and Dave DiNatale each collected a pair of hits, with Jackson hitting his first career homer in the fourth inning and DiNatale extending his hitting streak to six straight.

Miami opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, taking the early 1-0 lead over the Mountain Hawks. After Alonso walked and stole second, Mark Sobolewski smacked a double to right-center, scoring Alonso easily.

Lehigh took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when Austin Borden brought home Matt Reitz and Brendan McGaheran with a two-run single to left-center.

The Mountain Hawks held the lead for a brief period of time as Jackson connected on his first career homer in the bottom half of the fourth to tie it up, 2-2.

After a Tekotte single to short and a Weeks bunt single to open the fifth, Alonso singled to right, scoring Tekotte to put the Hurricanes up, 3-2. Weeks scored UM's fourth run on a double play ground out before Terdoslavich hit his first career homer, a towering shot to right, giving Miami a 5-2 advantage.

The Hurricanes tacked on four runs to their lead in the bottom of the sixth. Terdoslavich highlighted the inning with a two-run double to right-center.

Lehigh starter Andrew Berger was effective early on, but would eventually allow five runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. Greg Mortka, Andrew Grimm and Ken Longernecker finished the game out for Lehigh, allowing a combined four runs over the final 3 1/3 innings.

The Hurricanes will open Atlantic Coast Conference play this weekend when they play host to Boston College at Mark Light Field, March 7-9. First pitch Friday night against the Eagles is slated for 7 p.m.

Game Notes

-Jemile Weeks' three stolen bases marked the first time a Hurricane swiped three bases since Jon Jay accomplished the feat June 12, 2006 against Ole Miss at the Oxford Super Regional.

-Sophomore shortstop Ryan Jackson hit his first career home run in the fourth inning. Of Jackson's eight hits this season, six have gone for extra- bases - four doubles, a triple and a home run. He is slugging .773.

-Freshman designated hitter Joey Terdoslavich also hit his first career homer in the fifth.

-DiNatale extended his hitting streak to six games with a 2-for-5 night at the plate.

-The Hurricanes finished with a season-high 14 hits and nine runs.