No. 21 Hurricanes Drop Game Two 7-2

May 12, 2012

1 2 3 4 5 6 7	8	9	R	H	E	W: J. Fischer (4-4)
Deacons	0	0	6	0	0	1	0	0	0	7	11	0	L: S. Ewing (5-2)
Hurricanes	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	9	1

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The No. 21 Miami Hurricanes returned to Alex Rodriguez Park for game two of their weekend set with the visiting Wake Forest Demon Deacons, dropping the Saturday night contest by a final score of 7-2.

After cruising to an 11-0 victory in game one of the series, the Hurricanes bats fell silent against Wake Forest starter Jack Fischer (4-4). The team managed only seven hits off Fischer in his career-long seven-inning stint, as the Deacons took advantage of a six-run third inning to take control of the game early.

Though it looked like junior lefthander Steven Ewing (5-2) was set up for another strong start through two quick innings of work, the Deacons (28-21, 10-16 ACC) exploded for five hits and six earned runs in a decisive third frame. After Ewing opened up the inning by hitting the first two Wake Forest batters, the southpaw built some momentum on a well-fielded bunt from Pat Blair to get the lead runner at third.

On the very next play covering first base on a groundball, however, Ewing slipped up and fell near the bag, leaving Conor Keniry safe at first and the bases loaded. After taking some time to test out his ankle by throwing extra pitches off the mound, Ewing remained in the game. The Deacons then connected for three straight hits off the Orlando, Fla. native, including RBI singles from Mac Williamson and Chris Lopez. A big two-run double from Jack Carey gave the Deacons a commanding 6-1 lead entering the fourth inning.

Fischer took care of the rest. The sophomore righthander scattered seven hits through his seven innings of work, allowing only one earned run on an RBI groundout to Jarred Mederos in the second inning. After matching a season-high with 14 hits on Friday night, Miami’s offense was held in check for most of the game. The Hurricanes (31-18, 13-13 ACC) had a baserunner in every inning but the third during Fischer’s outing, but still managed to come up mostly empty.

A bright spot once for Head Coach Jim Morris and staff was the team’s bullpen, which allowed only one run once Ewing was pulled after 2.1 innings. Javi Salas, Christian Diaz, Adam Sargent, E.J. Encinosa, Alexander Fernandez and AJ Salcines combined for 6.1 innings of one-run ball, the lone score coming off Diaz in the sixth. Salas led the way with four strikeouts through 2.1 innings, while Encinosa struck out three in his 1.1-inning stint.

Miami struck for its first run since the second inning with an RBI single from Brad Fieger in the eighth, but it was too little too late for Miami. Reliever Justin Van Grouw managed to hold the Hurricanes to only that run in the game’s final two innings, shutting the door on a 7-2 win.

The two teams will return to Alex Rodriguez Park for Sunday’s rubber match. First pitch for the game, set to be televised on Comcast/CSS, is set for 1 p.m.