Perry, Martinez Lead No. 13 Miami Past No. 21 UNC, 11-1
April 17, 2010
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The 13th ranked University of Miami baseball team continued its power surge Saturday night, getting home runs from Ryan Perry and Harold Martinez en route to an 11-1 win over No. 21 North Carolina at Alex Rodriguez Park. The win guarantees the Hurricanes their first series win against the Tar Heels since 2005 and their fifth ACC series win in their first six this season.
Zeke DeVoss went 3-for-4, scored three runs and stole three bases to lead Miami (26-9, 13-4 ACC) offensively. Perry’s homer – his first of the season – came in the bottom of the second as his two-run blast to right proved to be the game-winner. Martinez’s homer – a three-run shot in the fifth – was his team-leading 11th this season, his fifth in UM’s last 10 games and his second in as many nights against UNC (22-15, 6-11 ACC).
Eight of UM’s nine starters scored at least one run, while Scott Lawson had a season-high tying three RBI.
Eric Erickson (4-1) got the win for Miami, allowing just one unearned run on five hits while striking out six in five innings. Sam Robinson and Taylor Wulf each tossed two scoreless in relief of Erickson.
Chris Munnelly (1-1) took the loss for the Tar Heels, allowing seven runs on four hits in 4 2/3 innings. Dillon Hazlett was the lone UNC hitter with multiple hits, going 2-for-4.
The Tar Heels struck first with Levi Michael’s RBI single in the top of the first, but it proved to be the only run of the night for UNC.
With two outs and Chris Pelaez on first in the bottom of the second, Perry smacked the opposite field homer to right to put the `Canes up one.
After Zeke DeVoss led off the third inning with a double and advanced to third on a bunt by Stephen Perez, a balk by Munnelly brought him home for UM’s third run.
The Hurricanes added four more in the bottom of the fifth. DeVoss scored for the second time on a sacrifice fly by Lawson, before Martinez hit his three-run blast moments later down the line in left.
Miami went on to add three more runs in the sixth – highlighted by a two-run double by Lawson – before plating another in the seventh to close the scoring at 11-1.
The series finale will take place Sunday at 1 p.m. at Alex Rodriguez Park. The Hurricanes will throw right-hander Jason Santana (3-2, 4.46 ERA) and the Tar Heels will counter with righty Patrick Johnson (3-3, 3.13 ERA).
