Alonso’s Walkoff Homer Sends #2 Hurricanes to 6-4 Win Over Clemson Friday

April 4, 2008

Coral Gables, FL –

Yonder Alonso’s walkoff two-run homer in the ninth inning lifted #2 Miami (FL) to a 6-4 victory over Clemson in front of 3,000 fans at Mark Light Field in the series-opener on Friday night. Miami improved to 24-2 overall and 10-1 in the ACC. Clemson fell to 18-11 overall, 6-7 in ACC play.

Reliever Kyle Bellamy (4-0) earned the win by pitching 2.1 hitless and scoreless innings with five strikeouts. In 6.2 innings pitched, starter Chris Hernandez allowed seven hits, four runs, and one walk with a career-high 11 strikeouts. Reliever Matt Vaughn (0-1) suffered the loss.

The Tigers wasted little time jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Mike Freeman drew a leadoff walk on four pitches and moved to second two batters later on Doug Hogan’s single up the middle. Ben Paulsen followed with a double off the wall down the left-field line to score Freeman. Then, Kyle Parker’s groundout to second plated Hogan.

In the second inning, Miami went from two runs down to two runs up thanks to four consecutive hits. Dave DiNatale hit a one-out single up the middle and advanced to third on Yasmani Grandal’s single through the right side. Ryan Perry, making just his third start of the year due to Jemile Weeks not starting because he broke a team rule, followed with a single through the left side to score DiNatale. Blake Tekotte then gave the Hurricanes a 4-2 lead when he hit a three-run homer to right-center, his third of the season.

Clemson cut the Hurricanes’ lead in half in the fifth inning. Stan Widmann laced a double down the left-field line to score Sanders.

The following frame, Paulsen led off with a towering home run to right-center, his ninth of the season, to tie the score.

After neither team scored in the seventh and eighth innings, Ryan Jackson hit a one-out single in the ninth inning. Alonso followed with a two-run homer to right field to send the Hurricanes to their 11th win in a row.

Jackson was the only Hurricane to total two hits in the game, as Miami had 10 hits on the night. Tekotte added three RBIs on his long ball. Five of Miami’s six runs came on home runs, as the Hurricanes scored their runs in two different innings.

Paulsen registered a double, homer, and two RBIs for the Tigers, who totaled seven hits in the game. Four of the seven hits went for extra bases.

Clemson and Miami will play game-two of the three-game series on Saturday at 7:00 PM.