Hurricanes Go Deep Four Times In 12-4 Win At Wake Forest
March 20, 2005
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (www.hurricanesports.com) – The Hurricanes (20-5, 7-2 ACC) used four home runs and another strong start from sophomore pitcher Ricky Orta to cruise to a 12-4 win against Wake Forest (10-12, 4-5 ACC) Sunday afternoon at Gene Hooks Stadium.
Orta pitched a career-high seven innings and gave up six hits, one run, two walks and struck out six to move his record to 5-1 this season. He is 4-0 since joining the UM starting rotation three weeks ago. Wake Forest starter Charlie Mellies was charged with the loss and gave up seven runs on 10 hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
The Hurricanes scored nine runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings and totaled 16 hits in the game. Miami sophomore catcher Eddy Rodriguez had a career day at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Junior Ryan Braun, sophomore Danny Valencia and freshman Walter Diaz all added home runs for the Hurricanes. Valencia finished the day 2 for 5 with four RBIs and a double in addition to his third home run of the season.
Braun followed Paco Figueroa’s first-inning single with his second home run in as many days for a 2-0 lead. Wake Forest gained some ground in its half of the inning with a two-out bloop single from Brendan Enick that scored J.B. Tucker.
Roger Tomas hit a one-out triple in the second and scored on a soft single to center by Rodriguez. Rodriguez, who entered the Wake Forest series without a home run in a Miami uniform, hit his second solo home run of the series in the top of the fifth. Valencia increased the lead with a two-run double. Danny Figueroa singled in the sixth to score Brendan Katin from third for a 7-1 lead.
Miami exploded for a five-run seventh that put the game out of reach. Valencia and Diaz hit back-to-back home runs off Wake Forest reliever Eric Niesen. Rodriguez doubled to score Katin and Danny Figueroa singled to score Rodriguez for a 12-1 lead.
The Demon Deacons scored two unearned runs off UM’s Scott Maine in the bottom of the eighth to put the score at 12-3. Wake added one more run in the ninth
Miami returns to action Wednesday, March 23, at 7 p.m. against cross-town rival Florida International University at University Park.
Notes: Braun moved into a tie for ninth place on Miami’s all-time home run list, tying Jim Burt (2001-04) with 36 for his career… Valencia and Diaz’s back-to-back home runs were the first for Miami since Brian Barton and Jim Burt hit two in a row out against Ball State on May 21, 2004…
