May 2, 2010

Box Score | Season Stats (PDF)

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Chris Palaez went 2-for-4 with a seventh-inning grand slam and No. 16 Miami completed a three-game sweep of Maryland with a 9-1 win on Sunday.

Maryland starting pitcher Sander Beck held the Hurricanes scoreless for three innings, but Miami broke through in the fourth when Nathan Melendres hit a bases-loaded RBI single, scoring two runs.

Miami (34-11, 18-6 ACC) increased its lead to 3-0 in the sixth inning. Pelaez led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Harold Martinez. Michael Broad followed with a single through the right side that just got past a diving Gary Schneider, bringing in Pelaez.

Mike Rozak's RBI-single scored Schneider in the top of the seventh, but Rozak was later caught stealing and the inning ended with Maryland unable to do further damage.

Pelaez put the game out of reach in the bottom half of the seventh when he sent the first pitch he saw from Dan Gentzler over the right-field wall to clear the bases and give Miami a 9-1 lead.

Miami relief pitcher Travis Miller (1-0) went four innings and allowed one unearned run on four hits to get the win.

Beck (0-8), who faced the minimum six batters in his first two innings, was the hard-luck loser. The sophomore allowed two runs in 3 2/3 and struck out five.

With the loss, Maryland dropped to 15-33 and 4-20 in the ACC.

The Terps will take Monday off before resuming play Tuesday at Towson. Game time is set for 3 p.m.

Game Notes: Alfredo Rodriguez's father played shortstop at the University of Miami in the late 1970's and the younger Rodriguez had a good series against the Canes. The sophomore shortstop had two hits in each of the three games, including a home run on Saturday ... Adam Kolarek made his first appearance on the mound since March 30 and pitched well. Kolarek struck out the first three batters he faced and allowed one earned run in 2 1/3.