University of Tennessee Athletics
MIAMI DROPS VOLS IN SEASON OPENER 5-4
February 01, 2002 | Baseball
Feb. 1, 2002
Coral Gables, Fla. - The No. 2 Miami Hurricanes used a four-run fourth inning and capitalized on three Tennessee errors as the defending national champions extended their winning streak to 18 games with a 5-4 victory over the Volunteers at Mark Light Stadium in the season opener for both schools.
Tennessee (0-1) starter Patrick Hicklen was chased in the fourth inning after allowing five runs (two earned) on six hits with one walk. Hicklen (0-1) started strong, allowing an unearned run in the second while holding the Hurricanes to three hits. Things fell apart in the fourth as the first four batters all reached safely and scored, giving the Canes a 5-1 lead.
Freshman Jay Sadlowe, who retired the first five hitters he faced, came on in relief and pitched a solid 4 1/3 innings, allowing two hits with two strikeouts.
Shortstop Walter Sevilla and Dennis Gomez led the Vols with two hits, while Javy Rodriguez and Kevin Howard, also had two hits to pace the Hurricanes.
Miami's (1-0) Troy Roberson, making his first start in nearly two years following elbow surgery, gave a yeoman's effort, working 4 1/3 innings. He struck out five while allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits.
J.D. Cockroft (1-0) was credited with his first career win as he closed out the fifth.
Vince Vazquez picked up his first save, working the final 1 1/3 innings.
After Miami plated an unearned run in the second on a throwing error by second baseman Nick Crowe, Tennessee tied the game in the top of the third when Gomez scored on Brandon Hopkins' sacrifice fly.
The Hurricanes broke the game open with a four-run fourth inning keyed by Matt Dryer's two-run single, the third Vol error and a single by Danny Figueroa for a 5-1 lead.
Gomez scored UT's second run on a sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Hunter Rigsby in the fifth.
The Vols scratched for two runs on four hits in the eighth as Hopkins scored on a double play and Ryan Moffett singled home Javi Herrera to pull Tennessee to within one at 5-4.
Game two of the series will be Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
