Lawson Wins it for No. 15 Miami in 11 Innings, 9-8
April 3, 2010
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The 15th-ranked University of Miami baseball team clinched their fourth straight series to open ACC play by beating Wake Forest, 9-8, in 11 innings on a walk-off single to left by Scott Lawson Saturday night at Alex Rodriguez Park. Winners of nine of their last 11, the `Canes used nine stolen bases to win their eighth straight over the Demon Deacons.
After Wake Forest scored two in the ninth to send it into extra innings, neither team got anything going in the 10th. Wake Forest was retired quickly in the top of the 11th before the Hurricanes seized the opportunity in the bottom of the frame. After Zeke DeVoss led off with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Stephen Perez, Lawson’s flare the other way easily scored DeVoss to give the ‘Canes the win.
Daniel Miranda (2-1, 2.28 ERA) pitched the last 2 2/3 innings, striking out five while not allowing a hit to get the win for the Hurricanes, who improved to 19-7 overall and 9-2 in league play. Eric Erickson started the game for Miami, going five strong innings and allowing just one earned run, but the bullpen was unable to hold the lead.
Niko Spezial (1-4, 4.24 ERA) took the loss for Wake Forest, who dropped to 9-20 on the year (2-9 ACC).
The nine bases on the night marked the most for a Miami team since the Hurricanes swiped 10 bases against Clemson on June 2, 2001.
Zeke DeVoss led the way for the Hurricanes going 1-for-3, stealing two bases, driving in two runs and scoring two more – including the game winner. Harold Martinez and Frankie Ratcliff each went 2-for 4 and combined for three runs scored. Stephen Perez and Lawson also stole a pair of bases.
Steven Brooks led the Demon Deacons offensively, going 4-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored.
Wake Forest struck first with a solo home run by Brooks in the top of the first.
Miami responded by scoring two runs before recording a hit. Perez scored in the bottom of the first on a RBI groundout by Yasmani Grandal. Nathan Melendres then gave the `Canes the lead by scoring on a RBI groundout by David Villasuso the following inning.
The Hurricanes added two in the third as DeVoss crossed on an error when Lawson’s hard hit ground ball squirted through the first baseman’s legs. Lawson then scored on a RBI single by Martinez to put the `Canes up 4-1.
Wake Forest closed the gap by one on an RBI single by Mike Murray in the fourth.
In the bottom half of the fifth, Miami go the run back to make it 5-2 on a RBI double by DeVoss.
The Deacons added another run in the fifth on a RBI single by Ryan Semeniuk before Martinez hit his team-leading seventh home run of the year to make it 6-4 in the seventh inning.
However, Wake Forest tied it up on four straight hits to start the eighth inning. Mac Williamson hit a RBI single followed by a Carlos Lopez RBI double.
Momentum moved back in Miami’s favor – albeit briefly – when the `Canes went back up by two with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth after DeVoss hit an RBI sacrifice fly followed by a single by Perez.
However, the Demon Deacons tied it up once again in the ninth inning, scoring two on a single followed by back-to-back doubles by Semeniuk and Brooks.
The series finale is slated for Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Right-hander Jason Santana (2-1, 5.34 ERA) will take the mound for the Hurricanes. Wake Forest will counter with lefty Austin Sadler (1-1, 4.58 ERA).
