NC State Rallies Past No. 12 Miami in Extra Innings, 7-6
RALEIGH, N.C. –
The 12th-ranked University of Miami baseball team fell in extra innings to NC State Saturday night, 7-6, at Doak Field at Dail Park. Trailing 6-1 going into the bottom of the ninth, the Wolfpack scored five runs to send the game into extra innings before plating the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 11th.
Miami (15-7, 6-2 ACC) held the lead throughout until the ninth. UM plated a run in the first, another in the third, two in the seventh and two more in the ninth while NC State (15-8, 3-5 ACC) scored just a single run in the fifth before its five-run bottom of the ninth.
After its first two batters were retired in the ninth, a walk and a stolen base set up NC State’s first run in the ninth on a double by Dallas Poulk. Drew Poulk and Brett Maynard followed with back-to-back singles up the middle to keep the rally going and bring the Wolfpack to within three. A walk then loaded the bases before a single through the right side by Andrew Ciencin not only scored two, but a UM throwing error allowed a third run to score to even the game and set it into extra frames.
NC State reliever Felix Roque (1-0) earned the win, allowing two runs on five hits over the final 4 1/3 innings. Daniel Miranda (1-1) suffered the loss for the `Canes, allowing the bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the 11th.
UM starter Jason Santana turned in another strong start against an ACC opponent, allowing just one run on four hits while walking five and striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings. E.J. Encinosa relieved Santana in the sixth and tossed 1 1/3 hitless innings before Sam Robinson recorded the first two outs in the eighth.
Closer David Gutierrez blew his first save of the season, allowing five runs – four earned – in the ninth before Whaley got the final out in the ninth to send the game into extra innings. Whaley tossed 1 1/3 scoreless before turning it over to Miranda in the 11th.
Yasmani Grandal had his best offensive game of the year, going 4-for-5 with a homer, a triple, two singles and an intentional walk. The triple was the first of his career for Grandal. Frankie Ratcliff also hit well, going 3-for-6 with a run, while Scott Lawson finished the night 1-for-4 with three runs scored.
Wolfpack starter Cory Mazzoni allowed just two earned runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings. Ciencin finished 3-for-5 with two RBI while Maynard had two hits and two runs scored.
The `Canes opened the scoring by plating a run in the top of the first for the second straight night as a Harold Martinez single to center scored Lawson from third to put the `Canes up 1-0.
Miami made it 2-0 in the third when a fielder’s choice grounder by Grandal scored Stephen Perez from third for his fourth run of the series.
A wild pitch with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth scored NC State’s only run until the ninth.
Grandal put the `Canes ahead 4-1 in the seventh when he smacked the triple to right, scoring Ratcliff and Lawson.
Grandal was at it again two innings later, blasting a deep two-run shot to right to give the `Canes the 6-1 advantage going into the bottom half of the ninth.
The final game of the three-game set is slated for Sunday at 1 p.m. when left-hander Eric Erickson will start for Miami against NC State’s lefty Alex Sogard.
