Miami Completes Series Sweep of Wake Forest with 5-3 Victory

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Rony Rodriguez had a home run and Harold Martinez drove in two with a single – all in the fifth inning – to help the University of Miami complete a series sweep of Wake Forest University with a 5-3 win on Sunday in ACC baseball action at Wake Forest Baseball Park.

Wake Forest (7-12, 2-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) went ahead in the home-half of the fourth inning, as sophomore catcher Brett Armour registered his first home run as a Demon Deacon – smashing a deep three-run shot to left to advance the Deacs in front, 3-1.

Miami (12-8, 6-0 ACC) designated hitter Rony Rodriguez chipped into the Wake Forest lead to leadoff the fifth, tallying his team-leading third home run of the year with a solo shot to left field. The Hurricanes would reclaim the lead, 4-3, as Harold Martinez came through with a two-out, two-run scoring single shot back up the middle to drive across Zeke DeVoss and Stephen Perez for the go-ahead runs.

Holding a tight grip on a 4-3 advantage in the top of the seventh inning, Stephen Perez scored on a Michael Broad RBI double to straightaway center that gave the Hurricanes the final 5-3 advantage.

With the lead in hand, UMiami went to the bullpen in the bottom of the frame, using left-hander Sam Robinson to keep the Demon Deacons off the board and set things up for fellow reliever Adam Sargent and closer Daniel Miranda.

Once again stellar, the Hurricanes bullpen combined to hold the Demon Deacons off the board through the final three innings of the game.

The win went to starter Eric Whaley, improving his record to a team-best 4-1 mark, and the save went to Miranda – picking up his third save of the weekend – collecting his fifth save of the year. The loss was tacked to WFU starter Zach White, lowering his record to 0-2 for the season.

Whaley finished the game with six innings tossed, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out a career-high tying nine batters. Meanwhile, Miranda and Robinson combined for three strikeouts in closing out the contest.

Miami put the first run of the game on the board in the top-half of the first inning with a RBI fielder’s choice by Nathan Melendres that scored a streaking Zeke DeVoss from third. DeVoss’ slide into home against Wake Forest catcher Brett Armour forced the ball loose from the glove.

For Miami, the win was its seventh consecutive, and the first time the ‘Canes have started a season 6-0 in league play since 2006. Likewise, the six-game ACC winning streak is the first for UM since 2008.

After defeating nationally ranked North Carolina in two-of-three games last weekend at home, the Deacons are now riding a three-game losing skid for the first time all year.

Miami was led at the plate by DeVoss with a 3-for-4 showing at the plate, scoring twice and drawing a walk. In the process, DeVoss becomes the third Hurricane in as many days to register a three-hit outing. Behind him was Martinez with two hits and two RBI, as well as Broad with two hits and driving in one.

Wake Forest was led offensively by Armour’s three-run homer, with four different Demon Deacon batters solidifying hits on the day.

The Wake Forest bullpen allowed just a single run and three hits over the course of the final 4 2/3, using four different pitchers in that span. Michael Dimock – who also saw action yesterday – closed the game for the Deacs, pitching two innings and striking out two with two walks.

Miami returns to the field on Tuesday, March 22, hosting UCF inside Alex Rodriguez Park at 6 p.m.

For ticket information for the 2011 baseball season, call 1-800-GO-CANES or visit Hurricanesports.com.

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