Sunday, June 05, 2011

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The Dolphins appeared ready to erase nearly a decade’s worth of frustrations against the Hurricanes. But JU couldn’t hold a three-run lead as No. 16 Miami scored four eighth-inning runs against three relievers as the Dolphins lost, 6-3, in an elimination game of the NCAA Gainesville Regional at Florida’s McKethan Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Miami sent 10 men to plate in the eighth after collecting just four hits through seven scoreless innings. The Dolphins lost to the Hurricanes for the second time in three days in the NCAA Tournament, ending its season at 37-24.

The Hurricanes (38-22) advanced to face No. 2 Florida on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. JU couldn’t find an answer for its bugaboo, losing to Miami for the ninth straight time and the fourth time in the last three seasons in Regional competition.

“This was a tough game to lose because we played our hearts out,” said JU head coach Terry Alexander. “We got on them early and we kept them at bay with some big plays. I really thought we had things under control but this is baseball and it happens. Miami got to us in the eighth inning last game and they did it to us again today. I would have liked to see us get a big hit today but we couldn’t find it.”

Dan Gulbransen gave the Dolphins a chance to eliminate the Hurricanes, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs in helping the Dolphins build the early 3-0 lead. JU still finished the campaign with 34-or-more wins for the fourth time in the last six seasons.

The Hurricanes tacked on two ninth-inning insurance runs which proved important when the Dolphins had the winning run at the plate in the bottom of the frame but Miami’s Daniel Miranda entered and forced a fly out to right to secure the save.

Reliever Sean Green replaced starter Tony Mollica in the fifth and put up zeros until the ill-fated eighth.

Rony Rodriguez gave the Hurricanes life leading off the eighth, by pulling a drive down the left-field line for his team-leading 13th home run to cut JU’s lead to 3-1. That also prevented the Dolphins from posting its first shutout against Miami since 1979.

But Miami did more than just prevent an ignominious fun fact. Rodriguez’s home run ignited a nightmarish inning for the Dolphins. A walk, fielder’s choice and two singles followed a strike out before Chris Pelaez ripped a 0-2 single through the right side to plate Stephen Perez. A wild pitch would allow Daley Carey to score the equalizer and sway momentum the other way for the first time in the contest.

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