No. 8 Miami Takes Series From NC State Behind Gutierrez
March 7, 2009
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Junior right-hander David Gutierrez turned in his second straight scoreless start and the Hurricanes’ pitching staff held NC State to just three hits as the eighth-ranked University of Miami baseball team won the game and the series over the Wolfpack, 4-0, Saturday at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.
Gutierrez (2-0), who was named Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week on Monday after tossing seven scoreless innings in a 2-1 win at No. 12 Florida last weekend, allowed just three hits while extending his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 13 straight. Gutierrez struck out four and walked five, but timely pitching and solid defense kept the Wolfpack off the board all night.
Freshman Daniel Miranda relieved Gutierrez in the seventh and tossed two scoreless before junior Taylor Wulf came on the ninth to finish the game.
The victory secures Miami’s (9-2, 2-0 ACC) third series win of the season and its fourth ACC season-opening series win in UM’s five seasons in the league.
Freshman Nathan Melendres was the lone Hurricane with multiple hits, finishing the night 2-for-4 with an RBI, extending his team-best hitting streak to 11 straight games to open the season. Junior Chris Herrmann (1-for-4) hit a fourth-inning solo home run to left – his second homer of the season – that proved to be the game-winner for the `Canes.
NC State (7-4, 0-2) starter Jake Buchanan (1-1) went the distance and suffered his first loss of the season, allowing four runs on six hits while walking three and striking out nine. Kyle Wilson, Pratt Maynard and Cameron Conner had NC State’s three hits.
UM’s second run came across in the third for the Hurricanes when a one-out, bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Ryan Jackson scored Jonathan Weislow from third.
Miami scored for the third straight inning with two more runs in the fourth. After Harold Martinez doubled, a wild pitch moved him to third before a Jason Hagerty groundout brought him home to give the `Canes a 3-0 lead. Three batters later, another run came across when Melendres singled home DiNatale from third to push the UM lead to 4-0.
NC State threatened in the sixth, loading the bases with just one out but Ryan Jackson’s diving stop up the middle turned into a 6-4-3 double-play that got the `Canes out of the jam.
The final game of the series is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. at Alex Rodriguez Park. Sophomore left-hander Iden Nazario (2-0, 4.09 ERA) is slated to take the mound for the `Canes while LHP Alex Sogard will go for NC State.
Postgame Notes
– Freshman Nathan Melendres extended his team-best hitting streak to 11 straight games to open his UM career.
– Junior Chris Herrmann hit his second career home run in the bottom of the second inning.
– UM’s last three-hitter was recorded on April 25, 2008 against Virginia (1-0 win).
– UM’s last shut-out was recorded on May 3, 2008 against Saint Mary’s (5-0 win).
– The last UM opponent to lose despite throwing a complete game was Pat McAnaney of Virginia (8.0 IP) on April 25, 2008.
– Miami has now won all three weekend series this season. The Hurricanes also improved their record to 4-1 in ACC season-opening series since joining the league in 2005.
