March 29, 2003
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Paco Figueroa homered and Miami scored 10 runs in the first four innings as the 13th-ranked Hurricanes (22-4) defeated No. 2 Georgia Tech (21-4), 13-8, on Saturday evening at Mark Light Stadium. The win was Miami’s second straight in the three-game weekend series.
The Yellow Jackets jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Miami responded with one run in the first and three runs in the second to chase Tech starter Andrew Kown (2-1). The Hurricanes jumped on Tech relievers Chris Goodman for four runs and Aaron Walker for two runs to race to a 10-4 lead after five innings.
Tech struck early with a two-run double from Mike Nickeas and a RBI single from Clifton Remole in the first inning. A RBI groundout from Brian Burton in the bottom of the first inning cut the Tech lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the first. The Hurricanes erupted for three runs in the second inning, including a RBI double from Erick San Pedro and a RBI groundout from Richard Gianotti, to take a 4-3 lead. A four run third inning, highlighted by a two-run homer from Paco Figueroa, gave the Hurricanes an 8-3 lead.
Georgia Tech’s Tyler Greene walked and scored on a balk to cut the lead to 8-4, but Miami immediately answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning, including a RBI single from Jim Burt, to make the score 10-4.
The Yellow Jackets clawed their way back into the game with the long ball. A solo home run from Matt Murton, his seventh of the season, in the fifth inning and a two-run shot from Brandon Boggs, his sixth, in the seventh inning brought the Yellow Jackets to within 10-7.
Miami responded to the Tech rally in the bottom of the seventh inning with a two-run double from Gabi Sanchez to retake control of the game, 12-7. The Hurricanes added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth when San Pedro singled and scored on Paco Figueroa’s sacrifice fly.
Miami starter Vince Bongiovanni (5-1) earned the win after battling through six innings. The right-hander allowed five runs, four of which were earned, on six hits and three walks while striking out eight batters. George Huget earned his fourth save of the season after working out of a bases-loaded, one out jam in the eighth inning and recording the final five outs of the game.
Giannotti, San Pedro and Jim Burt led the Miami offense with two hits apiece. Jake Hall had three hits in the loss for the Yellow Jackets.
Georgia Tech and Miami will conclude the three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will be televised by Fox Sports Net Florida ane Fox Sports Net South. Radio coverage is available on WREK-Radio (91.1 FM in Atlanta), while live statistics and the radio broadcast are available on the internet at www.ramblinwreck.com.
