Canes Win Regular Season Finale

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The 15th-ranked Miami Hurricanes rebounded from a tough loss on Friday night to take the regular season finale, 5-2, from Duke on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Alex Rodriguez Park.

Rony Rodriguez (three extra-base hits and three runs batted in) and Zeke DeVoss (four hits) led the Canes offensively, and the pitching staff allowed only three hits on the afternoon en route to the series clinching win on Fan Appreciation Day.

The Hurricanes finish the regular season at 34-20 (19-10 Atlantic Coast Conference), while Duke ends the year at 26-30 (7-23 ACC).

After allowing an unearned run to Duke in the top of the first, Rodriguez responded with a two-run homer to left field to give the Canes a lead they would not relinquish in the bottom of the inning. It was the team-leading 10th home run on the year for Rodriguez, who ranks tied for fourth in the ACC in long balls.

Miami would add their third run in the third inning on an RBI single from senior Chris Pelaez to score Rodriguez, who had doubled to start the inning.

Saturday marked the final home regular season game for Pelaez, who went 2-for-4 as the designated hitter, and Michael Rudman, who made an appearance on the mound in the eighth inning.

Rodriguez would go on to knock in his third run of the game in the fourth inning with his second double to give Miami the 4-1 advantage. He leads the Canes with 15 two-baggers on the season.

The Hurricanes tacked on another insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning with some help from the Blue Devils. With DeVoss on third and Harold Martinez on first, Martinez left early towards second. However, Duke pitcher Ben Grisz threw the ball into center field, allowing DeVoss to score the final run of the game for Miami.

Travis Miller (2-0, 1.42 ERA) earned the win in relief for the Canes, not allowing a hit in two innings of work. Daniel Miranda earned his 12th save of the year.

Starter E.J. Encinosa pitched four effective innings, allowing only one hit, but was limited due to the upcoming ACC tournament.

Drew Van Orden (3-6, 7.22 ERA) took the loss for the visiting Blue Devils.

Duke added the last run of the ballgame on an eighth inning sacrifice fly from Will Piwnica-Worms, who had two doubles on the day.

Miami will be back in action next week at the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Tournament. The Hurricanes finish the regular season fifth in the league standings, and will likely play North Carolina – who finished fourth overall – in the opener. The official seeding and brackets will be announced by the ACC Office on Sunday.

For more information on the ACC Baseball Tournament, please visit TheACC.com.

For more information on the University of Miami baseball team, please log on to HurricaneSports.com. To follow the UM Baseball Team via twitter, please navigate to Twitter.com/CanesBaseball. You can also access the official UMiami Baseball blog at TheUBaseball.com.

Fans can keep up-to-date with all UM Athletics via twitter at Twitter.com/HurricaneSports.  You can also become a fan of the Canes on Facebook at Facebook.com/MiamiHurricanes.

University of Miami Postgame Notes:

With the win, the Hurricanes are now:

• 34-20 overall
• 19-10 in the ACC
• 23-11 at Alex Rodriguez Park
• 15-10 in day games
• 7-5 in game three of a series
• 7-5 when wearing white “U” hats

And the Award Goes to…
Being the last home game of the year, several Hurricanes were honored with team awards. Recipients were as follows:
                                        Rookie of the Year – Bryan Radziewski
                                        Homerun Award – Rony Rodriguez
                                        Fraser Top Pitcher Award – Eric Whaley
                                        Werner “Winner” Award – Nathan Melendres
                                        Novins “Fan Vote” Award – Bryan Radziewski
                                        Most Valuable Player – Zeke DeVoss

DeVoss Dials up Duke
Sophomore Zeke DeVoss had Duke’s number this series. Through three games, he batted .700, going 7-for-10 with one double and six singles.

Roaring Rony
In the first inning, junior Rony Rodriguez went yard for the tenth time this season. His 10 home runs are the most on the team and fourth best in the ACC.

He did not stop there. In the third and in the fourth, Rodriguez hit his 14th and 15th doubles of the season – also the most on the team. In the series, he went 4-for-9 with three doubles and one home run.

Strong Start
Starting pitcher E.J. Encinosa has been lights-out in first innings this season. His walk of leadoff hitter Jeff Kremer was the first base runner he has allowed in an opening inning since his April 24 start at UNC.

Another Milestone
Today’s win marked the 1400th win overall at Mark Light Field – now Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.

Bunting Machine
Junior Nathan Melendres bunted in all three of his plate appearances on Saturday.