March 17, 2006

Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. (www.hurricanesports.com) - The Miami pitching staff tossed its second shutout in three games to defeat Duke 3-0 in the Hurricanes' Atlantic Coast Conference road opener at Jack Coombs Stadium Friday night. Miami (19-6, 4-0 ACC) held the Blue Devils to five hits and won its 13th-straight game, while Duke dropped to 8-14 overall and 1-3 in conference play.

Freshman designated hitter Dennis Raben doubled twice and went 3-for-4 with a RBI and run scored to lead a 10-hit performance by the Hurricanes at the plate.

Hurricane starter Carlos Gutierrez improved to 6-1 on the season and gave up just four singles in seven innings of shutout ball. Gutierrez, who was coming off his first no-decision of the year last week against Virginia Tech, struck out eight Blue Devils and lowered his season ERA to 1.70. Danny Gil pitched a scoreless eighth inning, setting up Chris Perez for his fifth save of the season.

Danny Otero, who entered the game with a 4-0 record and a sterling 0.67 ERA, gave up three runs, two earned, on nine hits in eight innings for his first loss of the season for Duke.

Duke missed its chances early, stranding a combined five runners through the first three innings of the game. Gutierrez retired 13 of the last 15 batters he faced, negating Otero's strong performance.

Raben's two-out double in the second scored Tommy Giles and put Miami up 1-0.

The Hurricanes added to the lead in the fifth. Raben hit his second double of the game with and moved to third on an infield single by Roger Tomas. Blake Tekotte drove Raben home with a sacrifice fly to left for the 2-0 lead. Jemile Weeks followed with a double that dropped just inside the left field line that was misplayed by Duke left fielder Daniel Palmer, allowing Tomas to advance home, providing the three-run cushion.

Miami and Duke continue the series Saturday at 7 p.m. at Jack Coombs Field.