NC State Takes Series with 19-9 Win over Miami
April 15, 2007
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – – NC State erupted for 14 runs in the first four innings as the Wolfpack defeated Miami, 19-9, to win the rubber game of the Atlantic Coast Conference series on a windy then rainy Sunday afternoon at Mark Light Field. Miami had 14 hits in the game led by shortstop Ryan Jackson, who finished 3-for-4 with two RBI, but the Wolfpack (26-11, 11-7 ACC) racked up a 23 hits which included four home runs – three in the first two innings.
Miami (22-16, 8-10 ACC) dropped only its second series of the season at home and lost its first home series in ACC play. Mark Sobolewski went 2-for-4 with two runs scored for UM. Dennis Raben hit his eighth home run and third of the series as he finished 1-for-3 with three RBI.
The Hurricanes used six pitchers in the game. Freshman John Housey started the game and lasted one inning as he allowed three runs on three hits. He was sattled with the loss. Teddy Kaufman pitched one scoreless inning for Miami.
Marcus Jones went 4-for-6 with three RBI and a home run for the Wolfpack. Ramon Corona, Mike Roskopf, Ryan Pond and Dallas Poulk each had three hits. Jeremy Synan, Pond and Drew Martin joined Jones with three RBI a piece.
Miami last surrendered at least 20 hits in a game against Georgia Tech on Mar. 26, 2005, which also was the last time UM had given up more than 15 runs in a game. Georgia Tech defeated UM, 17-6.
NC State used the long the ball in the first inning to go ahead, 3-0. After a Corona single, Synan homered to right center putting the Wolfpack ahead, 2-0. One out later, Pat Ferguson hit his second home run of the season to center field extending the Wolfpack lead.
Martin’s two-run home run in the top of the second started a six-run inning for State. Martin’s hit made it, 5-0, before an RBI single from Synan gave NC State a 6-0 lead. Two more NC State batters then walked with the bases loaded for an 8-0 advantage. Pond flied out with one out to bring in another run giving the Wolfpack a 9-0 lead.
Raben’s three-run homer in the bottom of the third rallied Miami within 9-6. Jackson led off the third with a double to left center. Blake Tekotte followed with a double to the same spot scoring Jackson getting Miami within, 9-1. Roger Tomas dropped in a single and a Yonder Alonso base hit scored Tekotte making it, 9-2. After Gus Menendez’s sacrifice fly scored Tomas, Raben belted his third home run of the series bringing the Hurricanes within three runs.
NC State answered Miami’s surge with a five-run fourth inning highlighted by Pond’s two-run double and Martin’s two-run single to center field as NC State went on to lead, 14-6. Jones hit a two-run home run in the top of the sixth pushing the lead to 10 runs, 16-6.
Poulk’s two-run double in the top of the seventh gave State an 18-6 lead. Miami made it 18-8 in the bottom of the eighth when Jackson drove in Nick Freitas and Jonathan Weislow with a single to center field. NC State added a run in the top of the ninth.
Ben Vazquez’s first career hit in the bottom of the ninth scored Sobolewski for the final 19-9 score.
Miami returns to action Wednesday as the Hurricanes host North Florida at 7 p.m.
Series Notes: Dennis Raben hit .462 in the series against NC State. He finished 6-for-13 with three runs, three home runs and six RBI … Sophomore first baseman Yonder Alonso also had a good series going 5-for-10 with two runs scored and one RBI. He walked three times and owned a .615 on-base percentage … Freshman third baseman Mark Sobolewski also contributed five hits in the NC State series … Miami hit .301 in the series, but the pitching staff compiled a 6.39 team ERA … NC State won its first ever three-game series over Miami picking up wins eight and nine this weekend. Miami now leads the all-time series, 16-9.
