Beach Twice Come Back Only to Lose in Ninth April 19, 2002 CORAL GABLES, FL-- Miami's Kevin Howard, who went 10-for-12 against the 49ers as a freshman in 2000, kept up his torrid hitting tonight, ending the game with a three-run homer in the ninth, 9-6, after No. 13-ranked Long Beach State (24-11) twice came back to tie it. Miami improved to 19-18 on the season. Howard finished the day 4-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs, with the final blast to right field coming off of reliever Daniel Eisentrager (5-3). Closer George Huguet (5-1) picked up the win, blowing the save, but picking up the win over 2.0 innings of work. After Miami took a 4-1 lead after three innings, LBSU came back with one run in the fifth and two in the sixth. Mike Hofius' sacrifice fly cut the lead in half at 4-2, before Jeremy Reed's two-run homer an inning later tied the game at 6-6. After Abe Alvarez left after five innings of four-run, seven hit ball, Chris Demaria allowed his first two earned runs of the season, as the Canes took a 6-4 lead. Demaria had gone the first 23.0 innings and first 13 appearances without giving up an earned run. Demaria settled down to pitch two more strong innings, retiring the last eight. LBSU came back again with two runs in the eighth, scoring on a double play ball by Paul McAnulty followed by an RBI single from Mike Hofius to tie it at 6-6. Chris Wright went 1-for-3 on the day, inching ever closer to the all-time record. Wright is now just 10 hits away from breaking the school-record (245). RHP Nate Beucler (1-1) will take to the hill tomorrow at 7 p.m. EST. BOX SCORE | 
