Pitcher Enrique Garcia, the University of Miami baseball team's lone senior, has a nice group of underclassmen supporting him at the plate.
For the fourth consecutive time this season, the Canes have made Garcia's time on the mound easy, scoring at least three runs in the first inning.
On Sunday, the top-ranked Canes scored seven in the first two innings on the way to a 15-3 victory and a three-game sweep of St. Mary's (22-22-1) at Mark Light Field.
Garcia improved to 4-1, even though he allowed three runs, eight hits and three walks in five innings.
''When you go out in the third inning and you are up 7-0, it makes it easier,'' said Garcia, who struck out four. ``You know your team has got your back.''
A sacrifice fly by Yonder Alonso scored Blake Tekotte for the Canes' first run, and Adan Severino hit a bases-loaded double down the third-base line to extend the lead to 4-0.
Dennis Raben, who had one of his best games of the year, sparked a three-run second inning with a two-run single for the Canes (39-5). Raben was 4 for 4 with a home run and four RBI.
''I had guys in scoring position and I was looking for something to drive and I hit it well,'' said Raben, who placed three of his four hits to left-center.
``I just wanted to let the ball get deep.''
The Hurricanes' bullpen was back in top form, with David Gutierrez and closer Anthony Nalepa having solid performances.
Gutierrez allowed two hits and struck out four in three innings, and Nalepa gave up two hits and struck out one in the ninth.
''Our bullpen has been pretty consistent,'' Gutierrez said. ``Coach [Jim Morris] uses us a lot and has a lot of confidence in us.''
Jason Hagerty, Mark Sobolewski and Severino went 2 for 3 apiece, Tekotte had three hits and Dave DiNatale was 1 for 1 with three RBI as the Hurricanes scored in double figures for the 20th time this season.
''I couldn't ask for anything more out of our team at this point,'' Morris said of his team, which had 17 hits. ``We got some big hits, but all that matters around here is the end.''
