Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Miami Fla
Baseball Team Defeated By Miami (Fla.), 4-2
3/22/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 22, 2000
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern baseball team saw its four-game win streak come to a halt Wednesday night, as the defending NCAA champion University of Miami (Fla.) rallied in the eighth inning for a 4-2 victory at the Hurricanes' Mark Light Field in Coral Gables, Fla.
The loss dropped the Wildcats to 9-6 overall, while the 'Canes improved to 20-8-1.
Thanks to the pitching of Zach Schara, Northwestern held a 2-1 lead heading into the eighth inning. However, Miami was able to push three runs across on Schara and reliever Dan Padgett, and then Hurricane closer Luke DeBold closed the door on the Wildcats in the ninth.
Miami's scored all of its runs in the eighth with two outs. With runners on first and second, `Cane catcher Mike DiRosa tied the game with a single up the middle to score Kevin Howard. Padgett was brought in, but Kris Clute greeted him with a first-pitch single that scored Danny Matienzo for the winning run. Javy Rodriguez gave Miami some insurance with an infield single that scored DiRosa.
Miami took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Manny Crespo knocked in Mike Rodriguez with an RBI single.
Northwestern bounced back in the fifth to tie the score. Wesley Robinson singled to lead off the inning, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error. He was brought home by Jeremy Kurella, who singled to right field. In the sixth inning, the Wildcats took the lead when Robert Dainton reached base on an error, advanced to second on a walk and then took third on a passed ball. Pat Thompson brought him home with a sacrifice fly to left.
Northwestern's bats, which had uncorked 59 hits in the last four games, were held to just five hits Wednesday night, while Schara allowed seven hits and was charged with all four runs in 7-2/3 innings. Schara's record fell to 3-1, while DeBold was credited with the win and improved to 3-2.
Northwestern will compete in the Homestead (Fla.) Challenge for the next three days. The Wildcats meet Northeastern University out of Boston Thursday morning, with second-round games on Friday and the championship on Saturday. The 'Cats will conclude the spring trip with a game against Vermont on Sunday morning.
