Junior Joel Staples went 3-for-4 with a double and a triple in the loss Friday.

May 2, 2008

Box Score

Coral Gables, FL - An exciting ninth inning brought Saint Mary's (22-20-1) within four, but fell to the University of Miami (37-5) by a final score of 10-6 Friday evening at Mark Light Field.

The number one team in the country jumped out to an early 2-0 nothing lead when Miami's first baseman Yonder Alonzo hit a two run homerun to center field. The homerun was Alonzo's 13th of the season. The Hurricanes continued to add to that lead scoring five more in the bottom of the third, two in the fourth.

Starting on the mound for the Gaels was junior Brian Justice (4-3) who managed five complete innings, surrendering 10 hits, nine runs, eight of them earned, four walks with no strike outs.

The Gaels added a run in the top of the fifth when senior Brian Hawkins reached on a fielder's choice and later scored on junior Joel Staples fifth triple of the season. That was the only run the Gaels would score off Hurricane starter Chris Hernandez (8-0). Hernandez went five complete innings, scattering five hits, the lone earned run, no walks and three strike outs.

Coming in on relief in the bottom of the sixth was senior Alex Jensen who pitched by far his best outing of the season. The senior went three complete, scattering four hits, giving up one run, while surrendering no walks and striking out three. The lone blemish on Jensen's outstand performance was a solo homerun to freshman Joe Terdoslavich.

The Gaels added another run in the eighth when Staples lead off the inning with a double to left field. He advanced to third when Ryan Young grounded out to the shortstop. Staples would score when sophomore Anthony Aliotti a fly ball to left field deep enough for Staples to score.

On the evening Staples went 3-for-4 with the triple and the double, scoring a run and knocking in a RBI.

In the ninth the Gaels made it interesting when they scored four runs, highlighted by a double from Hawkins that scored Scott Schneider and Connor Larkin. Hawkins went 2-for-5 on the afternoon scoring two runs and knocking in a pair of RBI's. Senior Kenny Fuglerud collected multiple hits on the day going 2-for-3.

The two teams will resume play tomorrow at 7:00 PM eastern.