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April 20, 2008
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Junior first baseman Yonder Alonso belted two home runs including his first career grand slam and junior closer Carlos Gutierrez recorded a strikeout in the bottom of the seventh to end the game as No. 1 Miami held off No. 2 Florida State, 11-10, Sunday afternoon in a game shortened due to a travel curfew. Sophomore lefty Eric Erickson returned after a month off to pick up his sixth win for the Hurricanes (33-4, 17-2 ACC) who clinched the Atlantic Coast Conference series.
Erickson (6-0) tossed four innings and allowed three runs all coming on solo home runs. He held FSU to five hits, walked three and struck out three. Carlos Gutierrez tossed 1 1/3 innings and recorded his ninth save.
Alonso knocked in five runs and finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Blake Tekotte, Dennis Raben and Mark Sobolewski each had two hits. Buster Posey drove in three runs for the Seminoles while Jack Rye, Mike McGee and Stephen Cardullo also each finished with a pair of hits.
FSU starter Elih Villanueva (4-1) lost for just the first time this season as he lasted just two innings and gave up five runs on five hits. Four FSU relievers combined to toss the final five innings.
The Seminoles entered the bottom of the seventh trailing 11-9. After Carlos Gutierrez struck out Tony Delmonico looking, Mike McGee singled up the middle and pinch-hitter Tommy Oravetz walked. Ohmed Danesh grounded out to first base for the second out, but McGee scored on a wild pitching getting FSU within, 11-10. On a full count, Gutierrez struck out Tyler Holt looking to end the game. No inning could start after 3:30 p.m. due to the ACC travel policy which was to allow Miami to catch its return flight to Miami.
Posey's three-run home run sparked a five-run sixth inning as Florida State rallied from seven runs down to pull within, 11-9.
Alonso's first career grand slam after two walks and a bunt single put Miami ahead, 4-1, in the top of the third. Raben and Sobolewski followed with back-to-back singles. After Ryan Jackson's sacrifice bunt advanced the runners and an intentional walk to Adan Severino reloaded the bases, Dave DiNatale's sacrifice fly sacrifice fly brought in Raben as Miami led, 5-1.
Erickson got out off a bases loaded jam with two outs in the bottom of the third after Posey and Jack Rye hit back-to-back singles and Dennis Guinn walked.
Weeks' eighth home run of the season cleared the fence in right field pushing the Hurricanes ahead, 6-1, in the fourth. Alonso followed with his second homer of the game to right giving Miami a 7-1 lead. Miami loaded the bases again and went ahead, 8-1, when Raben scored on a wild pitch as UM scored three more runs in the fourth.
Back-to-back home runs from Mike McGee and Stephen Cardullo drew the Seminoles within, 8-3, in the bottom of the fourth.
Raben's RBI single in the top of fifth tacked on another run for the Hurricanes who went ahead, 9-3. With runners in scoring position, Ryan Jackson doubled down the left field extended the Miami lead to six runs.
FSU pulled within, 9-4, in the fifth inning.
Stidham drove the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the first over the wall in right field giving the Seminoles an early 1-0 lead.
Miami returns home to face Florida International Wednesday April 23 at 7 p.m. UM will host Virginia next weekend for a three-game ACC Coastal Divison series.
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