No. 13 Canes Clinch Series with 5-3 Win

Box Score | Season Stats

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Late-game heroics from Brad Fieger and Stephen Perez clinched the game and the first Atlantic Coast Conference series of 2012 for the No. 13 Miami Hurricanes, who took Game Two over Boston College by a final score of 5-3.

It was the Eagles, however, who took advantage of some early miscues from the Hurricanes in a two-run first inning marred by fielding blunders. Leadoff hitter Tom Bourdon reached base after hitting a pop-fly that was misread by the left side of the infield, scoring two plays later on an RBI double from shortstop Anthony Melchionda.

Catcher Matt Pare then reached on a throwing error from Esteban Tresgallo that pulled first baseman Brad Fieger off the bag, plating Melchionda for the second run of the inning.

As he managed to do throughout the game, however, starter Eric Whaley limited the damage, holding the Eagles scoreless for the next five innings. Though he allowed doubles to Boston College hitters in each of the first four frames (and nine total hits through his six innings on the hill), Whaley finished his strong performance with the game tied 2-2 after 93 pitches.

The Hurricanes cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the third inning, as freshman shortstop Jarred Mederos (3-for-4) scored on an RBI bloop to right field by senior Peter O’Brien. It was Tyler Palmer, however, who had the key play of the inning by moving Mederos over to second on a perfect sacrifice bunt.

Mederos led the charge once again in the bottom of the fifth, as his first career double jumpstarted the Canes’ offense. After Palmer walked, sophomore outfielder Dale Carey hit an RBI single up the middle to tie the game at two runs apiece. O’Brien nearly gave Miami its first lead of the game in the next at-bat, but a ball hit hard up the middle struck the pitcher’s mound and fell into perfect place for an inning-ending double play.

Boston College scored a run in the top of the eighth inning, as Melchionda and Pare connected for another run. After a hit by Melchionda, Pare’s RBI single to rightfield three plays later gave the Eagles their second lead of the night at 3-2.

Late-innings fireworks from Fieger helped Miami tie the game in the bottom of the same inning. The Naples, Fla. native, one of only three Hurricanes to start every game in 2012, connected on a solo shot to left field that tied the game 3-3.

After Tresgallo extended his hitting streak to an ACC-high 13 games and Michael Broad was hit by a pitch, Perez connected on a two-run triple to centerfield that sealed the win for the Canes. E.J. Encinosa came in for the final inning, retiring all three batters for his second save of the season.

GAME NOTES

Through The Quad
With his double in the eighth inning, Esteban Tresgallo extended his hitting streak to a conference-high 13 games. The longest hitting streak of any freshman in program history belongs to Mark Sobolewski, who connected in 20 straight games in 2007.

Call Him “Mr. Clutch”
Brad Fieger has now recorded game-tying hits in three consecutive games dating back to Wednesday’s midweek contest against Miami (OH). His solo shot in the eighth inning was pivotal in the Canes’ successful comeback.

Hold ‘Em Off
Though he allowed nine hits, junior righthander Eric Whaley was able to successfully hold off the Eagles on multiple occasions. Boston College, who finished the game 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position, scored twice in the first inning for their only runs off Whaley.