Miami Bounces Back For 9-6 Win Against N.C. State
April 29, 2006
RALEIGH, N.C. (www.hurricanesports.com) – The Miami offense gave starting pitcher Scott Maine seven runs of support in the first two innings on the way to a 9-6 win against No. 15 North Carolina State at Doak Field Saturday afternoon. No. 22 Miami turned two inning-ending double plays with the bases loaded to thwart Wolfpack comeback attempts and help improve the team to 28-16 overall and 13-10 in the ACC.
Maine (7-2) went 6.1 innings and gave up five runs, four earned, on eight hits with three walks and five strikeouts in the win. Wolfpack (32-14, 14-9 ACC) starter Eryk McConnell (6-5) lasted 4.1 innings and gave up eight hits, nine runs, six earned with three walks and two strikeouts.
Miami’s 1-4 hitters scored eight of the team’s nine runs, including three by Jon Jay, who also hit a solo home run. Tommy Giles and Danny Valencia both scored twice, Eddy Rodriguez doubled twice and Richard O’Brien hit a three-run double to lead Miami.
N.C. State stranded 11 runners on base, including two in the ninth inning with the tying run at the plate.
UM’s first four hitters of the game reached base and scored in a four-run first. Valencia drove in Jemile Weeks with a bases-loaded single. Yonder Alonso’s seventh sacrifice fly of the season scored Giles from third for a 2-0 lead. Rodriguez knocked in Jay and Valencia with a double to left-center to complete the scoring.
Aaron Bates cut the Hurricanes’ lead in half with a two-run home run to right in the bottom of the inning.
O’Brien took advantage of a Wolfpack error that loaded the bases in the second, hitting a three-run double to center to put Miami up 7-2. The inning looked to be over when Jonathan Diaz threw to third for the force out on Valencia’s grounder, but Matt Mangini dropped the ball to load the bases and prolong the inning.
Two mistakes by Maine helped N.C. State come within 7-4 in the third. An error on a failed pickoff attempt to second base put Matt Camp and Ramon Corona on second and third with one out. Camp scored on Jon Still’s sac fly to right and Corona crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
Jay scored got one run for Miami back with a solo home run to right field in the fourth.
The Wolfpack was poised to strike again in its half of the inning, loading the bases with one out. Alonso and Roger Tomas turned a 3-6-3 double play to end the inning on Ramon Corona’s grounder.
McConnell gave up a one-out double to Rodriguez and bunt single to Tomas in the fifth before being replaced by Chris Engle. Blake Tekotte drove in Rodriguez with a sac fly to right for a 9-4 lead.
Danny Gil spelled Maine with two on and one out in the seventh. Still singled home Camp from second to cut the lead to 9-5. Gil walked pinch-hitter Aaron Cone to load the bases.
Andrew Lane relieved Gil and used two pitches to get Miami out of the inning. Mangini lined out to left and Camp was doubled-up at third when it was ruled that he tagged early on his attempt to score.
N.C. State scored an unearned run against Chris Perez on a bases-loaded passed ball in the ninth inning. Perez forced Brian Aragon to fly out to center to end the game.
The series finale begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Doak Field.
Notes: Jay was hit by a pitch for the 30th time in his career and 15th time this season in the first inning, moving him into sole possession of fourth place on the single-season list … Jay’s home run was his first since March 8 and was his 52nd run scored of the season, setting a new single-season high (51 in 2004).
