UM Baseball Sweeps Boston College in Sunday Doubleheader

April 3, 2011

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CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – After a two-day delay due to weather, the University of Miami and Boston College finally met Sunday for an ACC doubleheader at Eddie Pellagrini Diamond at Commander Shea Field in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Miami swept the doubleheader affair – using a 19-4 advantage in the opener, and a 7-6 decision in the nightcap in a fifth inning game.

Miami (17-11, 8-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) pounded out 36 hits on the day, including a season-high five home runs. The games were a make-up from Friday and Saturday when games were cancelled due to snow. The five-inning game in the nightcap happened due to the ACC Sunday curfew rule – where an inning cannot start after 4:45 p.m. for teams traveling via plane. The third game will not be made up.

In the opener, the Hurricanes pounded out a season-high 26 hits, surpassing the previous high of 14 against Illinois State (March 8).

Starting pitcher Eric Whaley collected the win in the first game, improving to 5-1 on the year, tossing just four innings, but with the `Canes holding an 8-3 lead when he left the mound. In earning the win, Whaley allowed three earned runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out a batter. But it was the bats that did the work on Sunday for Miami.

Zeke DeVoss started the day with a leadoff homer in the top of the first to pace four Hurricanes with homers in the game. UM scored in eight-of-nine innings during the first game, including four spots in the third and seventh innings, respectively. Boston College (10-15, 4-7 ACC) starter Nate Bayuk was lifted after just 2 1/3 innings worked on the hill, allowing six earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

With the game tied at two after two frames, the offense picked up for the `Canes as they bolted for four runs in the third inning behind sophomore outfielder Chantz Mack’s first career home run that scored Brad Fieger on the play. Fieger finished the first game with a game-high tying four RBI, alongside sophomore Cade Kreuter who hit his first homer as a Hurricane in the seventh as he hit a first-pitch fastball in a pinch hit effort, scoring Chris Pelaez and Harold Martinez.

In the contest, Miami was led at the plate by nine batters registering a multi-hit outing, including shortstop Martinez and Fieger with four hits apiece. Kreuter was 3-for-3, and freshman Dale Carey went 3-for-6 with two RBI.

E.J. Encinosa tossed three innings in relief, striking out three batters and not allowing a hit in that span. Michael Rudman and Zach Robinson closed the game with an inning each. BC used a season-high eight pitchers in the opener.

Overall, UMiami got homers from DeVoss, Nathan Melendres, Kreuter and Mack in the first game.

Bryan Radziewski started the second game for the Hurricanes on the mound, with the ACC curfew rule looming the entire time. The `Canes plated five runs in the opening inning – using Carey’s two-run scoring single, in addition to Pelaez’s RBI double.

Miami’s Martinez brought around Nathan Melendres in the second inning to extend the `Canes lead, 6-0.

With Miami holding a 7-3 advantage in the fifth after Rony Rodriguez hit his team-leading fourth home run, the Eagles charged back in the home-half of the frame.

Daniel Miranda struck out BC’s Marc Perdios to end the game and preserve the win after the Eagles scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth.

The win went to Radziewski, tossing four frames and allowing four runs on five hits – and Miranda claimed the save (his seventh of the campaign) with a run allowed on two hits. The Eagles’ John Leonard went the whole way in the loss with seven earned runs on eight hits and three walks.

UM was led offensively by Martinez and Rodriguez with two hits each. BC’s Anthony Melchionda also had a two-hit game in the nightcap, as well as catcher Tom Bourdon finishing 2-for-2 in the game.

Miami gets back to the field on Wednesday, April 6, traveling to Fort Myers, Fla., to battle the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles for the third time in as many weeks. Miami has taken both of the previous meetings against the Eagles this year, leading the all-time series by a count of 6-0.

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