Garcia's Complete Game Guides Hurricanes to 5-1 Win over NC State
April 14, 2007
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – – Enrique Garcia struck out a career-high 12 batters in a complete game performance while outfielders Dennis Raben and Blake Tekotte each hit home runs as Miami (22-15, 8-9 ACC) evened its series against NC State (25-11, 10-7 ACC) with a 5-1 win Saturday afternoon at Mark Light Field. The game lasted two hours and three minutes and was the first complete game thrown by a Hurricane since earlier last season.
Garcia (3-2) tossed eight straight scoreless innings before surrendering a run in the top of the ninth on Pat Ferguson’s double to right center, which scored Joe Florio. Florio led off the ninth with a single. Up until then, NC State had only managed three hits in eight innings. Garcia tossed UM’s first complete game ever in ACC play and the first since Manny Miguelez threw one last March in a 7-2 win over Indiana.
Tekotte finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and his first home run this season. Raben ended up 2-for-4 with two RBI and his seventh home run of the season. Mark Sobolewski also drove in two runs for Miami in going 2-for-3.
NC State’s Andrew Blackman (6-3) suffered only his third loss. Brackman allowed five earned runs on 10 hits and walked three in seven innings. Sam Brown threw the final inning for the Wolfpack.
Jeremy Synan led State going 2-for-4.
Sobolewski’s two-run single scored Tekotte and Roger Tomas putting Miami ahead, 2-0, in the bottom of the third inning. Tekotte hit a one-out single through the right side, before Tomas reached on an infield single. After UM was successful on a double steal, Sobolewski laced a single down the right field line.
Three innings later, Raben hit his second home run of the series down the right field line after a Yonder Alonso walk, putting Miami ahead, 4-0, in the bottom of the sixth.
Tekotte homered off the scoreboard in left field with two outs in the bottom of the seventh giving the Hurricanes the 5-0 lead.
Miami and NC State will wrap up their ACC series at 1 p.m. tomorrow. UM freshman RHP John Housey will face NC State LHP Jimmy Gillheeney.
