Miami vs Dartmouth - NCAA Regional Baseball Recap

(11) Miami 12, Dartmouth 8

Earl Weaver, one of the greatest managers in Major League Baseball history, is still alive. If he has an ESPNU cable subscription, one hopes he saw Miami’s four-run win over Dartmouth on Friday.

Weaver, the longtime skipper of the Baltimore Orioles, managed in the American League and therefore prized big innings more than single runs. Weaver delighted in brawny baseball instead of the small ball National League guys preferred. Weaver was a disciple of the three-run homer, the big blast which transforms a game in an instant.

Oh, how he would have loved what Miami did in its first NCAA tournament game of 2010.

The 11th-ranked and top-seeded University of Miami baseball team hit four home runs - including three three-run blasts - to turn back No. 4 seed Dartmouth Friday afternoon at Alex Rodriguez Park.

Miami jumped out to a big lead early on, scoring six in the first and three in the fourth before eventually picking up the four-run win. The Hurricanes will now play No. 2 seed Texas A&M Saturday at 4 p.m. Eastern.

Harold Martinez, Michael Broad and Chris Pelaez all hit three-run homers for the Hurricanes, while Scott Lawson added a solo shot to tie Miami's thermonuclear explosion. Pelaez finished the day 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored, Martinez went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs, while Broad went 2-for-2 with a career-high tying four RBI. Lawson (2-for-4, three runs), Nathan Melendres (2-for-5, two runs) and Stephen Perez (2-for-4) also finished with multiple hits for the `Canes.

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After Miami jumped out to an 11-0 lead after four, a weather delay in the sixth halted play for just over an hour. When the two teams came back out to finish the game, Dartmouth rallied, scoring two in the sixth, four in the eighth and two in the ninth - but closer Daniel Miranda locked down the win in the end for the Hurricanes.

Eric Whaley started for the `Canes and gave up just two hits and no runs while striking out four in four innings. Because of the rain, though, Whaley’s arm got stale while waiting, and the Canes’ braintrust had to bring in a reliever. Joe Lovecchio (1-0) was that man, and as a result, he got the cheap win even though he allowed five runs in 3 1/3 innings. Three other relievers pitched the final 1 2/3 innings for Miami.

Big Green starter Kyle Hendricks did not fare well. The Dartmouth hurler got blown out of the box in the first and allowed 11 runs on 10 hits in three innings of work.

Earl Weaver likely had little sympathy for him... if he watched this game.

By: Matt Zemek
ACC Fans Senior Staff Writer