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Baseball Falls to Miami, 14-11

April 4, 1999

FORT MILL, S.C. – Vince Vazquez earned his first career save, while shortstop Bobby Hill and rightfielder Mark Walker led the team offensively as the sixth ranked University of Miami baseball team (24-7) defeated Clemson (17-13), 14-11, on Sunday afternoon at the Knights Stadium outside Charlotte, NC. With the win, the Hurricanes won the three-game series, two games to one over the Tigers.

Miami held the lead the entire game, holding an 11-5 lead through 6.5 innings and a 12-7 lead through 7.5 innings. Clemson scored two runs in the seventh and four in the eighth to narrow the UM lead to one run.

In relief of Mike Neu, freshman Vince Vazquez entered the game with the bases loaded, no outs and the score 12-8 in the eighth. Vazquez allowed three runs, all charged to Neu, yet escaped another bases loaded jam with the ‘Canes clinging to a one-run lead. Vazquez went on to close out the ninth.

Junior right-hander David Gil (3-0) matched his career high of six innings en route to his third win of the year. Gil gave up five runs, three earned, on five hits. He struck out five and walked four.

Right-handed starting pitcher Steve Reba (2-3) took the loss. Reba gave up four runs on three hits over 2.2 innings. Hill hit three doubles, a triple, while registering three RBI and scoring two runs. Hill’s double in the sixth inning was the third of three straight doubles for the Canes as third baseman Javy Rodriguez and second baseman Kris Clute each hit two-baggers. In the ninth, Hill extended the Miami lead to three runs with a triple to left center. Hill also stole his 30th base of the season bring his career stolen base total to 117, six shy of the all-time school record.

Walker drove in four runs on a triple and a home run. Walker hit a two-run triple to begin a three-run second inning. In the seventh, Walker hit his sixth home run of the year to right field. The four RBI matched a season-high for the junior from Westminster Christian in Miami. On the day, Walker went 2-2 with two walks, three runs scored, four RBI and a sacrifice.

Catcher Greg Lovelady hit the first home run of his career as part of a 3-4 day. Lovelady hit a solo blast to left center with two outs in the fifth inning. In the third, he hit a RBI-single with two outs, while he singled to right in the ninth. Lovelady also recorded a sacrifice and reached base on an error in another at bat. Over the three-game series, Lovelady went 6-12 with 5 RBI.

With the two home runs, Miami set a school record by hitting home runs in the last 15 straight games. The previous record was set last season (4/15-5/15/98).

Designated hitter Patrick Boyd led the Clemson offensive attack with a career-high six-RBI performance. Boyd hit a two-run double in the third, a two-run home run in the seventh, and a two-run single in the eighth.

Miami returns to action next weekend with a three-game series vs. North Carolina State beginning Friday, April 9 at Mark Light Stadium.

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