Duke?s 9th-Inning Rally Falls Short In 4-3 Loss To Miami

Saturday, March 18

Durham, N.C.

7:00 PM

Duke University

Miami

Six-Run First Leads No. 1 Florida State To 15-5 Win Over Duke

Duke?s 9th-Inning Rally Falls Short In 4-3 Loss To Miami

3/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. ? The Duke Blue Devils scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth but it wasn't enough as the Miami Hurricanes held on for a 4-3 win Saturday night at Jack Coombs Field. The Blue Devils fall to 8-15 overall and 1-4 in the ACC while the Hurricanes, who won their 14th consecutive game, improve to 20-6 overall and 5-0 in league action.

Trailing 4-1 entering the final frame, center fielder Jonathan Anderson singled to second base to start the inning. Second baseman Javier Socorro then drew a walk to give Duke runners on first and second. After catcher Matt Williams struck out looking and shortstop Brett Bartles flied out to center, Anderson and Socorro both advanced a base on a wild pitch. Right fielder Jimmy Gallagher then roped a two-run double to right field to make it a one-run game. With the tying run on second and Duke threatening to score, Miami closer Chris Perez got third baseman Adam Murray to ground out to end the game.

The Hurricanes jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when first baseman Yonder Alonso turned on a 1-1 offering from Duke starter Jimmy Saris and hit a towering two-run homer over the right field wall.

Miami then scored on an RBI-groundout by shortstop Walter Diaz in the top of the second to take a three-run lead.

Duke scored a run in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 3-1 ballgame. Gallagher singled to second to lead off the inning and then advanced to second on a throwing error by Miami. Murray followed with a bunt single to give the Blue Devils runners on the corners. First baseman Jonathan Nicolla then hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Gallagher.

The Hurricanes added a run in the top of the eighth to take a 4-1 lead. Second baseman Jemile Weeks lined a triple into the left center gap that barely got past a diving Anderson to start the inning. Center fielder Jon Jay then laced an RBI-single to left to cap the scoring for Miami.

Miami starter Manny Miguelez (5-1) earned his fifth victory of the season, holding the Blue Devils to one unearned run on three hits in 8.0 innings of work. The sophomore right-hander recorded 10 strikeouts on the night. Perez escaped with his fifth save of the year after allowing two runs in the ninth.

Saris (0-3) suffered his third loss of the season despite a solid pitching performance. After giving up three runs on four hits in the first two innings, the freshman right-hander held the Hurricanes scoreless over the next five frames while registering a career-high seven strikeouts.

Gallagher led the Blue Devils at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.

Miami was led by catcher Eddy Rodriguez, who went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with a run scored. Alonso was 2-for-3 with two RBI while Jay collected a pair of hits and an RBI for the Hurricanes.

Duke and Miami will wrap up their three-game series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. at Jack Coombs Field.

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