BASEBALL: Canes finish sweep

By The Daily Progress Staff

Published: April 27, 2008

In Coral Gables, Fla., Miami raced out to an early lead and never looked back Sunday, completing a three-game sweep over Virginia at Mark Light Field.
The top-ranked Hurricanes collected 16 hits en route to a 10-0 victory in the first lopsided contest of the series. UVa dropped the opener Friday, 1-0, and the middle game Saturday, 4-3, in 10 innings.
Miami, undefeated at home against league foes, improved to 36-5 overall and 20-2 in the ACC. Virginia (32-15, 13-11) extended its losing streak to four games.
“We didn’t play the game very well today from a lot of different aspects,” said Virginia coach Brian O’Connor. “Miami can do that to you. I can see why Miami is the No. 1 team in the country. They are so good offensively.
“Fortunately, we pitched great in the first two games and held them down. They are the definitely the best team in the country — that is for sure.”
Miami starter Enrique Garcia baffled Virginia’s hitters through seven full innings, allowing just three hits and two walks.
Virginia, which managed just six hits in the game, fell behind in the first inning. The Hurricanes took advantage of three singles and a costly error on a dropped fly ball by rightfielder David Coleman to score three runs.
Virginia starting pitcher Andrew Carraway appeared unnerved by the opening inning until Miami broke the game open in the fifth inning.
Carraway allowed a lead-off double to Blake Tekotte, who moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, and intentionally walked Yonder Alonso. Miami third baseman Mark Sobolewski took full advantage, drilling a pitch over the wall in left field.
“He hung a slider to Sobolewski and he took a good swing on it,” O’Connor said. “Andrew pitched good there in the middle innings that he was in, but the bottom line is that we have to threaten and be better offensively.”
Carraway allowed two more hits in the frame, including a run-scoring single, before O’Connor pulled his No. 3 starter. For the game, Carraway allowed 10 hits and seven runs (five earned). 
Sobolewski, a triple shy of hitting for the cycle, finished with six RBI.
Virginia plays Mount St. Mary’s at home Tuesday at 6 p.m. before taking a
10-day break for exams.
It will actually mark the first time, due to the condensed schedule, that the coaching staff can work in extended practice periods with the players.
“That’s what we have to believe,” O’Connor said. “You really don’t get to practice much and hopefully we can take advantage of it.
“We have to play well on Tuesday and go into exams and work on some things and get better. Hopefully, we come out of the break with a better approach.”