Hurricanes Fall In Super Regional
June 9, 2002
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Down 4-1, South Carolina scored five runs in the top ofthe ninth inning to defeat the defending national champion Miami (Fla.)Hurricanes 6-4 to advance to the College World Series for the first timesince 1985. South Carolina (53-16) capitalized on a Miami error, a wildpitch, and a passed ball as Miami (34-29) went through four pitchers inthe inning.
John Wesley (1-0) was credited with the win for Carolina,relieving Blake Taylor in the in the seventh inning as Carolina was down3-1. Luke DeBold (1-1) gets the loss for Miami.
South Carolina scored six runs on nine hits and committed oneerror. Miami recorded four runs on 11 hits and also committed one error.South Carolina advances to the College World Series and will faceGeorgia Tech in the first round.
South Carolina scored first in the top of the first inning asYaron Peters doubled to left field with two outs. Brian Buscher doubledto right center, scoring Peters. Buscher then advanced to third on awild pitch, but was unable to score as designated hitter Demetric Smithgrounded out to third.
Miami came back in the bottom of the third inning as KevinMannix led off the Hurricanes with a single to center field. Firstbaseman Matt Dryer walked, sending Mannix to second. Danny Figueroa alsodrew a bases on balls, loading the bases. Paco Figueroa hit into adouble play as Carolina recorded outs at first and second, but Dryersafely advanced to third and Mannix was able to score, tying the game atone. Brad Safchik singled to second base, scoring Dryer as Miami took a2-1 lead over South Carolina. Javy Rodriguez walked putting runners onfirst and second, but Danny Matienzo flied out to right field to end theinning.
Miami scored again in the bottom of the fifth inning as Safchiksingled to left field with one out, starting it off for Miami. JavyRodriguez drew a single off of a bunt, sending Safchik to second. DannyMatienzo reached on base off of a fielder’s choice as Rodriguez was outat second, but Safchik reached third and then scored on an error by theCarolina short stop Drew Meyer. Miami would score one more run in thebottom of the eighth inning to give them a 4-1 lead over Carolina.
Yaron Peters started off the ninth inning for Carolina with adouble to left center. Brian Buscher followed Peters with a single toright field, sending Peters to third. Trey Dyson came into hit forDemetric Smith and hit a double into left center, scoring Peters andsending Buscher to third, who scored on an error by the second baseman.Tim Seaton came into run for Dyson and Garris Gonce doubled, scoringSeaton. Justin Harris laid down a bunt for a single, putting runners onfirst and second. Landon Powell then laid down a sacrifice bunt, sendingGonce to third and Harris to second. Kevin Melillo came up next for theGamecocks and grounded out to third as Miami held the USC runners totheir bases. Andrew Cohn, the current Miami pitcher, then threw a wildpitch, which sent Gonce home and Harris to third. Justin Harris thenscored on a passed ball as Drew Meyer walked. Miami then brought inShawn Valdes-Fauli to pitch with two outs and a 6-4 Carolina lead. SteveThomas hit an easy grounder to short and Miami recorded the final out ofthe half-inning, getting the force at second. Miami was unable to scorein the bottom of the ninth as South Carolina went on to win 6-4.
