No. 20 UM Takes Series-Opener from No. 10 UNC in Extra Innings

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The 20th-ranked University of Miami struck for eight runs in the top of the 10th inning for a 13-6 victory over 10th-ranked North Carolina in the series-opener – the first of a Saturday doubleheader in Atlantic Coast Conference action – snapping the Tar Heels’ 19-game home winning streak at Boshamer Stadium.

After North Carolina (31-9, 12-7 ACC), tied the game in the 10th, the University of Miami (26-12, 14-4 ACC) blasted an eight-run inning – the most in an inning since April 18, 2008 (vs. Florida State) – to take a commanding 13-5 lead.

The Hurricanes got the inning started with a bunt single by Nathan Melendres, followed by a sacrifice bunt from Rony Rodriguez. That’s when the hits started pouring in for the Canes. UNC elected to walk Harold Martinez in the next at-bat, forcing head coach Mike Fox to bring in Cody Penny from the bullpen.

Brad Fieger immediately singled off Penny, scoring Melendres for the tying run. That was followed by a bases-loaded walk to Dale Carey two batters later, bringing in the winning run in the form of Martinez. That’s when shortstop Stephen Perez delivered the knockout blow, unloading the bases with a three-run scoring triple to right field, giving UMiami the 10-5 advantage.

Later in the inning, Nathan Melendres powered his second homer of the left to deep left for a 13-5 advantage.

Carolina scored a run in the bottom of the inning, but Miranda stood tall and earned his third win of the season on the mound.

The Tar Heels tied it up and forced extra innings in the bottom of the ninth; using a Levi Michael double to center that scored pinch runner Seth Baldwin – following a single from Greg Holt to start the inning. Baldwin moved into scoring position following a sac bunt from leadoff hitter Ben Bunting.

Miami put together back-to-back scoring innings to come from behind in the seventh inning, getting timely hits from Zeke DeVoss and Melendres.

Perez kicked off the inning with a single, followed by a sacrifice bunt by David Villasuso. Second baseman Zeke DeVoss then traded places with Perez at second, bringing him in for the tying score at 4-all – collecting his seventh double of the year in the process.

Miami regained the lead in the next at-bat following a Melendres single to center bring in the speedy DeVoss, giving the Hurricanes a 5-4 lead.

UNC scored two runs with two outs in the sixth inning to regain the lead, trailing 4-3 entering the home-half of the frame.

Chaz Frank drove in Jesse Wierzbicki from second for the tying score with a single to left field – advancing to second on the throw to the plate. Matt Roberts would collect back-to-back hits for the Tar Heels, switching places with Frank for the go-ahead score.

Trailing 2-0 in the sixth inning, Nathan Melendres’ single to right field scored Villasuso from second after he singled and advanced to begin the inning. DeVoss later singled to continue his career-long hitting streak at 10 games.

Miami then used a bloop single to right center from Rony Rodriguez to load the bases for Martinez. Martinez, hitting .303 to enter the weekend, lined a two-run scoring single to right field that crossed DeVoss and Martinez to give the Canes a 3-2 lead.

That would close the books on UNC starting right-hander Patrick Johnson, as reliever and fellow right-hander Michael Morin took over on the mound with the bases loaded and two outs. Morin would get Dale Carey to ground out to first to end the threat.

Already leading 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth, UNC put runners on the corner with two outs for third baseman Colin Moran, who laced an RBI single through the right side to score Greg Holt from third. Moran was called out seconds later (on the same play) after rounding first looking to leg-out a double, before right fielder Dale Carey hit the cutoff man Stephen Perez at short, who then threw to Harold Martinez at first for the out.

Nevertheless, UNC led the Hurricanes, 2-0, after five innings of play.

Radziewski walked Colin Moran to open the fourth inning, and UNC first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki followed with a double down the left field line to put two in scoring position. A batter later, the Tar Heels used a walk from Tommy Coyle to load the bases for Jacob Stallings.

Stallings grounded into the 4-6-3 double play, but Moran was able to come home to open the game’s scoring and give UNC the early lead, 1-0.

UM threatened in the top of the fifth, using walks from Harold Martinez and Michael Broad to put runners aboard with one out. But Carolina’s Johnson got freshman right fielder Dale Carey to ground into a 5-4-3 twin-killing to end the side, leaving a runner stranded.

Miranda moved to 3-1 on the year, while UMiami starter Bryan Radziewski pitched well in a no-decision effort. Miranda tossed the final two innings allowing two runs on three hits and striking out one. Radziewski tossed seven complete innings, allowing four runs on nine hits and striking out four batters.

The loss went to UNC’s Chris Munnelly, throwing three innings and giving up two runs on two hits, dropping his record to an even 3-3 on the campaign. Starter Patrick Johnson allowed three runs on five hits scattered in 5 1/3 tossed, striking out seven and walking three.

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