Miami Takes Series-Opener from Deacons in Winston-Salem

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Freshman pitcher Bryan Radziewski went 6 1/3 innings on the hill, allowing just a single run – unearned – with a career-high 10 strikeouts to help pitch the University of Miami past Wake Forest, 4-1, Friday night in ACC baseball action at Wake Forest Baseball Park in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Clinging to a 2-0 lead in the top-half of the fifth inning, Miami (10-8, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) second baseman Michael Broad’s two-run scoring double to left-center allowed Chantz Mack and Brad Fieger to extend the UM lead at 4-0 with both runners scoring easily on the play.

Sitting on a 4-1 lead in the seventh, the `Canes went to the bullpen for reliever Adam Sargent who went the final 2/3 of the frame, keeping Wake Forest (7-10, 2-2 ACC) off the scoreboard though runners were in scoring position. Setup man junior Sam Robinson pitched the eighth, and closer Daniel Miranda picked up his third save of the year in tossing the ninth.

Wake Forest scored its only run of the game in the bottom-half of the sixth, benefitting from Steven brooks reaching first base on a walk – eventually making his way around on an error charged to the UM infield after a failed pickoff attempt, and a wild pitch from Radziewski a play later.

With tonight’s win, Miami has now run off five consecutive wins, and improves to 23-5 all-time against Wake Forest. The win also proved to be the ninth consecutive against the Demon Deacons.

Miami got on the board in the opening half-inning as Zeke DeVoss scored on a throw to the plate attempting to get him coming in on a double steal, after Nathan Melendres was attempted to be picked off at first heading for second. The Deacons defense had to make a decision – electing to go after a streaking DeVoss – and the throw to the plate was high.

UM starting pitcher Bryan Radziewski paced the game defensively, keeping hits off the Demon Deacons column of the scoreboard through 4 1/3 innings. With the win, he improves to 3-1 on the year, while Wake’s Austin Stadler fell to 0-4.

The `Canes were led at the plate by Broad’s 3-for-4 performance, including the two runs driven in, and his fourth double of the year. Melendres also accounted for a multi-hit night, tallying two hits on four at-bats, and leading the team in steals with two.

Wake Forest was held to just a four hits on the night, using the bat of third baseman Carlos Lopez for two of those singles. Jack Carey and Brett Armour each collected the other two singles for the Deacs.

The two teams will do it again tomorrow, as Miami looks for the series clinching win at 4 p.m., back at Wake Forest Baseball Park. UM will use sophomore right-hander E.J. Encinosa (1-2, 2.92 ERA) on the mound, against Wake Forest’s left-hander Tim Cooney (2-1, 2.28 ERA).

Last weekend, it was Cooney that helped Wake to an upset of nationally-ranked UNC in the first of back-to-back wins against the Tar Heels in Winston-Salem.

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