Menendez's Game-Winner Helps Miami Win Game One, 9-8, in 14 Innings
May 12, 2007
Winston Salem, N.C. – – Gus Menendez drove in Jemile Weeks in the top of the 14th inning and Eric Erickson won his eighth game to lead Miami to a 9-8 win in 14 innings over Wake Forest in the conclusion of the suspended game in the Atlantic Coast Conference series opener. Erickson (8-3) tossed three scoreless innings and struck out three.
Menendez went 3-for-7 with three runs scored. Blake Tekotte finished 3-for-6 while Weeks was 2-for-5 with two runs scored.
Eric Niesen fell to 5-5. After tossing 1 1/3 innings in relief Friday, he tossed three innings on Saturday and allowed one run and one hit. Niesen tossed a total 4 1/3 innings. He struck out six.
Weeks hit a one-hit single up the middle in the top of the 14th. After Dave DiNatale struck out swinging, Dennis Raben walked. Menendez then lined a ball into left field scoring Weeks putting Miami ahead, 9-8. Erickson sat down the final three batters he faced to wrap up the game.Ben Terry, Willy Fox, Dustin Hood and Evan Ocheltree each had two hits in the game. Miami out-hit Wake Forest, 12-10.Friday’s First 12 Innings.
Scott Maine no-hit the Demon Deacons through 5 1/3 innings. He one-hit the Demon Deacons through six innings, walked three and struck out one, before leaving the game after the delay.
Wake Forest starter Garrett Bullock went six innings, allowed five earned runs on six hits. He walked three and struck out two.
Tyler Smith capped off a six-run ninth inning with a three-run game-tying home run to make it, 8-8. Wake scored the first three runs of the inning on wild pitches and an RBI single by Dustin Hood.
Ryan Jackson’s RBI single in the top of the eighth scored Menendez pushing it to 8-2.
After a 93 minute rain and lightning delay, Miami tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh. UM worked the bases loaded for Tomas, who drew a bases loaded walk putting the Hurricanes ahead, 6-0. Yonder Alonso’s sacrifice fly scored O’Brien to make it, 7-0.
Wake Forest drew within, 7-2, in the bottom of the seventh after the Demon Deacons loaded the bases off the Evan Ocheltree’s single, Tyler Smith’s walk and an error. Brett Linnenkohl grounded into a double play scoring a run
Maine worked his way out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the fifth. Walks to Tyler Smith and Dan Rosaia came with one out. Brett Linnenkohl was hit by a pitch loading the bases. Ben Terry then hit into an inning ending double play leaving Miami ahead, 5-0.
Miami took a 5-0 lead behind Richard O’Brien’s grand slam in the top of the fourth. Dennis Raben’s sacrifice fly scored Roger Tomas giving the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes loaded the bases after an infield single by Tomas and back-to-back walks to Yonder Alonso and Jemile Weeks. After Sobolewski struck out swinging, Raben hit a line drive to the left fielder bringing in Tomas for a 1-0 UM lead. An infield single from Gus Menendez loaded the bases before O’Brien hit his first career grand slam to right center.
Miami and Wake Forest continues their series Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Hooks Stadium. After the conclusion of game one is play, the second game of the series will feature UM LHP Eric Erickson (7-3, 2.03 ERA) and Demon Deacon RHP Brad Kledzik (4-3, 4.79 ERA).
Game Notes: Senior designated Roger Tomas participated in the University of Miami’s arts and science school’s graduation ceremony Friday morning before catching a flight to play in Friday’s series opener. Tomas earned his degree in criminology. Senior first baseman Chris Petralli also received his degree on Friday. Petralli earned his degree in business management before joining the team in Winston Salem later on Friday … Mark Sobolewski had his 20-game hitting streak snapped after going 0-for-5.
