May 5, 2006

Box Score

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) - Miami was able to turn three Wright State errors into two runs to provide the difference in a 4-2 win Friday night at Mark Light Field. The 20th-ranked Hurricanes improved to 30-16 overall and Chris Perez earned his 10th save of the season in the first meeting between the two schools.

Scott Maine gave up two runs on nine hits in 6.2 innings in his first Friday start of the season to improve to 8-2. Perez pitched 1.1 innings of hitless relief to record his 18th career save, moving him into a tie with Todd Bush (1990-91) for seventh on Miami's all-time list.

Yonder Alonso hit his seventh home run of the season for the Hurricanes and Roger Tomas went 2-for4 to complement his solid play at shortstop.

Wright State (24-20) starter Robert Barrett (6-2) lasted 6.1 innings and gave up four runs, two earned, with seven strikeouts and three walks in the loss. Ross Oeder led the Raiders at the plate, going 3-for4 with a double.

Miami took advantage of a first-inning error and wild pitch to grab an early lead. Jemile Weeks drew a leadoff walk and advanced on Barrett's failed pickoff attempt and a wild pitch to move into scoring position. Weeks scored on Jon Jay's grounder to put Miami up 1-0.

Raider right fielder Amin Abusaleh took Maine deep on a full count in the fourth inning with a solo shot to left to tie the game at 1-1.

Miami retook the lead in its half of the fourth on Alonso's solo home run to right field.The Hurricanes gave themselves a 3-1 cushion in the sixth. Jay was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and moved to second on Richard O'Brien's sac bunt. Eddy Rodriguez hit a two-out single to drive Jay home, but was thrown out trying to take second base on the play, ending the inning.

Justin Parker followed Paul Majestic's triple to right with a sac fly to left field to cut Miami's lead to 3-2 in the seventh. Maine hit Oeder and gave up a single to Dan Biedenharn before he was relieved by Danny Gil, who finished the inning.

Barrett was spelled by reliever Joe Smith after giving up a one-out single to Gus Menendez and walking Blake Tekotte in the seventh. Menendez scored when Weeks' grounder to short was misplayed, putting Miami up, 4-2.

Perez came on with two on and two out in the eighth inning. Rodriguez threw out his second runner of the game, picking off Justin Wilson at first to end the inning and the final Wright State scoring threat.

The series continues at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Mark Light Field.

NOTES: Jay was hit by a pitch for the 16th time this season in the sixth inning, tying him with Mat Erwin (1994) for third on the single-season list ... it was also the 31st time Jay had been hit in his career, putting him two behind Danny Figueroa (2002-05) for the all-time mark ... Menendez stole his first base of the season in the seventh inning ... UM relief pitcher Andrew Lane moved into a tie with Jeff Morrison for ninth on the career appearances list with 87 ... Perez's 10 saves this season move him into a tie with Bush (1990) and Mike Gibbons (1987) for 10th on UM's single-season save list.