Miami Hurricanes baseball team blanked by Boston College

Boston College dominated Friday to defeat UM 3-0 -BY SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN

This wasn't the way the University of Miami wanted to open play in the Atlantic Coast Conference -- falling 3-0 to Boston College at the Hurricanes' home field.

The Hurricanes came into Friday night's game averaging nearly 10 runs a game and scoring at least seven runs in all but two contests. They beat UCF on Tuesday by 17 runs.

But on a cool, damp night at Mark Light Field, the Canes went dry in front of an announced crowd of 2,991.

UM left-handed starter Chris Hernandez (1-2, 2.35 ERA) lasted six innings, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out five. Two of three UM errors led to two of the runs.

``I thought I threw good enough to win,'' Hernandez said. ``I was able to get the outs. It should have been a one-run game, and we need to score more than that. But it's baseball. It happens.''

Boston College ace Pat Dean (3-0, 2.79), a left-handed junior, continued his dominance over Miami. He struck out a season-high nine batters in eight innings, giving up six hits and one walk.

Dean beat the Hurricanes (8-4, 0-1 ACC) twice last season, allowing one run in 14 innings. He was the winning pitcher in the game that knocked the Canes out of the 2009 ACC tournament.

``You've got to give Pat Dean credit,'' UM coach Jim Morris said. ``He has beaten us three times now.''

The Eagles (6-6, 1-1) opened the scoring in the second with two outs. Brad Zapenas singled, went to second on an error by UM center fielder Zeke DeVoss and to third on a wild pitch by Hernandez. Designated hitter Matt Watson followed with a double that was misplayed by DeVoss.

BC scored two more in the fourth when Matt Watson doubled against the left-field wall, driving home Anthony Melchionda (reached on an error and advanced on wild pitch) and Zapenas (walk).

``They shouldn't have scored any runs,'' Morris said. ``They took advantage of our mistakes when they were given opportunities. When we had opportunities, we didn't put the ball in play. We struck out nine times and a bunch of times in crucial situations. We didn't play defense, but our pitchers pitched well enough to win.''

Miami relievers E.J. Encinosa and Sam Robinson combined to pitch the final three scoreless innings.

The Eagles continue their long road trip at 7 p.m. Saturday at Mark Light Field. They began the Florida swing with an exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers, lost two of three at Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, then split a two-game set at FIU.

UM right-handed senior Jason Santana (0-1, 9.00) will pitch Saturday against right-handed junior Kevin Moran (1-1. 9.31).