Miami rallies by UM Hertzler fans 10, bullpen falters

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CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Brad Hertzler gave the University of Maine an outstanding start Tuesday night, but the Black Bears couldn’t finish it.

Miami chased UMaine’s junior lefthander in the eighth inning and scored four runs in the frame while earning a come-from-behind 4-2 baseball victory at Mark Light Stadium.

Miami, No. 23 in the USA Today coaches’ poll, has beaten UMaine 17 consecutive times.

“They didn’t win the game, we lost it,” said UMaine coach Steve Trimper. “I’m not pleased with this one. We outplayed them for eight innings and we gave it away.”

Hertzler, a transfer from the Community College of Rhode Island, scattered seven hits and struck out 10 while shutting out the Hurricanes for 7 1/3 innings. With his pitch count having reached 110 after a leadoff walk and one-out double in the eighth, UMaine’s relief corps was unable to seal the deal.

“Brad’s a gamer and that’s why we got him here,” Trimper said. “He’s a bulldog and he went out and he pitched great. He had all his pitches working.”

The Bears (4-6) failed to turn a double play and committed a costly error, opening the door for Miami’s game-winning rally.

Jason Hagerty drew a leadoff walk in the eighth, then pinch hitter Ryan Jackson reached on a fielder’s choice after a low relay throw from shortstop Curt Smith. Jemile Weeks doubled to left, putting runners at second and third and Hertzler was lifted in favor of Joel Thorney (0-1).

Bears catcher Sean Parker had Jackson picked off third base, but Jackson scored when Thorney failed to handle the throw from third.

Roger Tomas doubled home a run, then Thorney walked Mark Sobolewski intentionally and gave way to Nolan Boike. He was called for a balk, then Yonder Alonso laced a two-run single to right.

Greg Norton came on to get the final two outs.

Hertzler turned in a gritty performance and worked his way out of potential trouble by picking off baserunners in three different innings.

The Bears jumped on top 1-0 in the third when Danny Menendez reached on a fielder’s choice, Billy Cather singled and Matt McGraw delivered an RBI single to center field.

The Bears made it 2-0 in the seventh when freshman Myckie Lugbauer greeted Miami reliever Alex Koronis with a home run to right field.

The contest also pitted two brothers against each other. Sophomore Danny Menendez is the starting second baseman for UMaine, while senior Gus Menendez was Miami’s DH.

Maine (4-6) 001 000 100 – 2 7 1

Miami (11-9) 000 000 04x – 4 9 0

Hertzler, Thorney (8), Boike (8), Norton (8) and Parker; Garcia, Koronis (7), Gil (9) and Hagerty

Softball

Florida A&M 9, Maine 6

At Tallahassee, Fla., Rhianna Green had three hits, three RBIs and scored two runs to lead Florida A&M past the University of Maine.

Freshman designated-player Whitney Spangler had three hits and two RBIs to lead the 13-10 Black Bears. Ashley Waters had two hits and two runs scored while Alexis Souhlaris and Kristen Calvetti both added two hits.

Saint Joseph’s drops two

At Cape Coral, Fla., Elena Morge homered, doubled and singled to drive in four runs and lead the State University of New Jersey at Rutgers-Newark to the 13-0 win over Saint Joseph’s College of Standish in Tuesday’s second game. The Monks also lost to Illinois College 7-1 in the first game.

In the first game, Gabrielle Burrola doubled for the Monks.

In the second game, Anna Willis, Amanda Roy and Liddy van der Linden singled for the Monks.

(First Game)

Illinois College (4-6) 000 141 1 – 7 13 1

Saint Joseph’s 001 000 0 – 1 4 2

Schmalz and Papineau; Delahanty and Grindle

(Second Game)

Rutgers-Newark (4-5) 210 0(10) – 13 12 1

Saint Joseph’s (0-4) 000 00 – 0 3 1

Morge and Spampinato; Burrola, Wezowicz (5) and Daugherty