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April 11, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia baseball team had its 16-game home winning streak come to an end after suffering its first home loss this season following a 6-1 setback to the #12 ranked Miami Hurricanes at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium. Miami’s Jim Burt hit two home runs to drive in four of the Hurricanes’ six runs, and starting pitcher J.D. Cockroft pitched a complete game and allowed just one unearned run to pace Miami to a five-run victory.
Miami took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when the Hurricanes’ Burt connected on the first of his two home runs on the evening with a solo shot to left-center field. The Hurricanes extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the third inning when Miami hit three consecutive doubles, including back-to-back RBI-doubles by Adam Ricks and Ryan Braun to drive in a pair of runs.
Virginia scored its first and only run of the game and made it a 3-1 contest when Kyle Werman walked to reach first base, advanced to second on a throwing error by the Hurricanes’ catcher Erick San Pedro, before coming around to score a run on a RBI-single to left-center field by Matt Street.
However, Miami tacked on three more runs in the top of the sixth inning and pulled ahead 6-1, courtesy of a three-run home run to left-center field by the Hurricanes’ Burt. Burt’s home run was his second of the game and his eighth of the season.
UVa starting pitcher Chris Gale (2-3) went 6.2 innings and allowed six runs on eight hits to go along with two strikeouts in the loss.
Miami’s Cockroft (6-0) picked up his sixth win of the season after going 9.0 complete innings and allowed one run (unearned) on six hits with a game-high five strikeouts.
With the loss, Virginia’s record falls to 20-11 on the year. The victory improves Miami’s record to 26-6 on the season. The Hurricanes take a 1-0 lead in the three-game series with the Cavaliers with the win.
Virginia and Miami will return to action on Saturday, April 12th when the Cavaliers and Hurricanes play the second contest of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium.
— UVa —