No. 21 Miami Pounds Out 25 Hits in 23-5 Win Over Wake Forest
May 14, 2009
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The 21st-ranked University of Miami baseball team turned in its greatest offensive output of the season, recording 25 hits en route to a 23-5 win over Wake Forest Thursday night at Wake Forest Baseball Park.
The Hurricanes (33-18, 16-12 ACC) scored six runs in each of the first two innings before pulling away for the 18-run win over the Demon Deacons (22-28, 6-22 ACC) in the first game of a three-game series. The 25 hits for Miami were the most for any UM team since the Hurricanes recorded 26 against Virginia on April 24, 2004.
The eighth and ninth hitters in UM’s lineup – Ted Blackman and Nathan Melendres – each finished with five RBI while Chris Herrmann became the first Hurricane to score five runs in a game since Jim Burt accomplished the feat on June 6, 2004 against FAU. Eight of the nine hitters in UM’s lineup finished with multiple hits, while all nine in the starting lineup had already recorded a hit before the second out of the second inning was recorded.
Melendres and Harold Martinez each finished 4-for-5, while Herrmann finished 3-for-6 with three RBI. Dave DiNatale also recorded three hits, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored.
Chris Hernandez (7-3) earned the win, allowing three earned runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out five in five innings of work. John Housey – making his first appearance since April 28 – allowed just one hit in four scoreless innings to earn his first career save.
Wake Forest starter Phil Negus (2-6) did not make it out of the first inning, suffering the loss in allowing six runs on seven hits before exiting with two outs in the frame. Joel Ernst did not fare much better, allowing six runs on six hits in 1 1/3 innings in relief of Negus. From there Alex Wiesner allowed seven runs in five innings before Greg Young allowed four over the final two.
The Hurricanes had one of their biggest innings of the season, scoring six runs in the top of the first to take a big lead early on. Scott Lawson hit the team’s first lead-off homer of the season, blasting a deep shot to left to get the rally going. After a groundout, UM collected six of the next seven batters recorded a hit to bring around five more runs.
The `Canes matched their first-inning run total in the second, scoring six more runs to take a 12-0 lead. A single by Ryan Jackson started the inning and after back-to-back walks loaded the bases, four of the next five batters singled as Miami batted around for the second straight inning.
After UM plated two more runs in the third, Wake Forest responded with five runs in the bottom half of the inning to cut UM’s lead to 14-5.
A bases-loaded single by Blackman in the fifth pushed UM’s lead back to double-digits before a Melendres double scored Blackman to put the `Canes up 17-5.
Miami added six more runs from there, scoring two in the seventh and four more in the eighth to close the scoring at 23-5.
Weldon Woodall had three of Wake’s nine hits, finishing 3-for-5 with a run and a RBI.
Game two of the three-game set is slated for Friday night at 6 p.m. Left-hander Iden Nazario (5-3, 6.50) is scheduled to start for the `Canes while Wake will counter with RHP Michael Dimock (4-3, 6.83 ERA).
Game Notes
– All nine hitters in UM’s starting line-up had recorded a hit before the second out of the second inning was recorded.
– Miami’s 23 runs scored was its most since beating Wake Forest 23-2 on March 23, 2008.
– Miami’s 25 hits on Sunday were the most in a single game since the `Canes recorded 26 against Virginia on April 24, 2004.
– The Hurricanes scored multiple runs in four of the first five innings, plating six in the first, six in the second, two in the third and three in the fifth.
– Scott Lawson hit Miami’s first lead-off home run of the season with a blast to right to open UM’s six-run first inning. Blake Tekotte was the last player to accomplish the feat, doing so against Georgia Tech, May 22, 2008.
– Chris Herrmann became the first `Cane to score five runs in a game since Jim Burt accomplished the feat on June 6, 2004 against FAU.
– Eight of the nine hitters in UM’s lineup finished with multiple hits.
