No. 5 UM Defeats NC State for 7th Straight Win, 12-5
March 14, 2008
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<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>RALEIGH, N.C. – Junior second baseman Jemile Weeks matched a career-high with four hits and sophomore lefty Eric Erickson won his fourth straight start as No. 5 Miami knocked off NC State,12-5, Friday night at Doak Field in game one of their Atlantic Coast Conference series. Sophomore catcher Jason Hagerty went 3-for-5 with two RBI for the Hurricanes (12-1, 4-0 ACC) who won their seventh straight.
Erickson (4-0) limited the Wolfpack (9-4, 2-2 ACC) to one earned run on seven hits and struck out three. Sophomore right-hander Kyle Bellamy picked up his second save, tossing the final 2 1/3 innings after NC State had pulled within, 8-5. Bellamy struck out the side in the eighth and recorded the final seven outs.
Ryan Pond and Matt Payne each had a pair of hits for NC State, but Miami out-hit the Wolfpack, 13-10.
NC State’s Eric Surkamp lasted only 2 1/3 innings after giving up seven runs, three earned, on six hits. He walked five guys. Five NC State relievers combined to pitch the final 6 2/3 innings.
NC State had pulled within, 8-5, in the bottom of the seventh with four runs, but Bellamy stranded a runner on third for the final out of the seventh.
Hagerty’s base-hit allowed Weeks to round third. He scored when the NC State catcher couldn’t hold on to a throw at home putting Miami back ahead, 9-5, in the top of the eighth. Weeks reached when he singled with one out and moved to second on Yonder Alonso’s third walk of the game.
Ryan Jackson’s RBI single with two outs extended it to, 10-5, in the top of the ninth. Weeks’ two-run triple to right center capped off the three-run ninth giving the Hurricanes a 12-5 lead.
Miami led, 8-1, going into the bottom of the seventh. Jeremy Synan’s two-run single and Nick Stanley’s two-run triple highlighted a four-run Wolfpack seventh as NC State roared back within 8-5.
Hagerty helped Miami to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. After Alonso walked and stole second, he singled up the middle driving in Alonso.
Hagerty struck again with two outs in the top of the second. After Weeks doubled down the left field line to score Blake Tekotte, who walked with two outs, Hagerty delivered his second two-out RBI single putting the Hurricanes ahead, 3-0.
The Hurricanes scored four runs in the top of the third. Mark Sobolewski and Adan Severino led off with back-to-back singles. A failed pickoff attempt at second by the pitcher allowed the runners to move up. Ryan Jackson then popped a ball up to right field that was mishandled by the second baseman allowing Sobolewski to score as UM led, 4-0. Weeks then reached second on a two-base error which scored two more runs giving UM a 6-0 lead. Alonso’s ground out made it, 7-0.
Alonso dropped a base-hit into left field with two outs in the top of the fifth that scored Weeks, who hit a two-out single and moved to second on an error giving the Hurricanes an 8-0 lead.
Russell Wilson’s pinch-hit two-out RBI single pulled the Wolfpack within, 8-1, in the sixth.
Miami continues its Atlantic Coast Conference series with NC State Saturday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Doak Field.
