Baseball Falls to Georgia Tech After Wild 10th Inning

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The 29th-ranked University of Miami fought back to tie the game against 12th-ranked Georgia Tech, 3-all, but a stunning 10th  inning cost the Hurricanes the game and the series, as they fell, 12-3, Saturday afternoon at Alex Rodriguez Park.

The Yellow Jackets (20-4, 8-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) pinch hitter Evan Martin hit a two out, first pitch two-run home run off closer Daniel Miranda in the top of the 10th that allowed the visiting Jackets a 5-3 lead. Georgia Tech then padded its lead, hitting a three-run homer and adding seven more runs in total – all with two outs – to bring the score to the final margin of 12-3.

The bullpen, which had been excellent all season for Miami (14-10, 6-2 ACC), labored mightily in that last inning, as three relievers allowed nine runs on seven hits.  

Freshman outfielder Dale Carey, who had struggled all season at the plate, was a bright spot for the ‘Canes, going 2-4, including two RBI singles that brought home UM’s first two runs of the game.

The Hurricanes first got on the board in the fifth inning after trailing early-on, 2-0. Sophomore Michael Broad singled, stole second and advanced to third on the throw. After Brad Fieger advanced to first on a catcher’s interference, Carey drove home the first run of the game for the ‘Canes with a two-out, infield hit – his third consecutive contest with a hit.

With UMiami still trailing 3-1 entering the seventh, first baseman Rony Rodriguez and third baseman Brad Fieger walked and singled to begin the ‘Canes at-bat. After David Villasuso laid down his first of two sacrifice bunts on the day, Carey came to the plate and smacked a single under the glove of a diving Matt Skole at third that cut the Rambling Wreck lead, 3-2. With runners at the corners, Zeke DeVoss then drove in Fieger for the tying run when he hit a sharp ground ball to second that was bobbled, forcing the Yellow Jackets to only get the force at second. 

Georgia Tech opened the game’s scoring in the fourth inning when the Yellow Jackets strung together their first three hits of the game, including a two out, two-run single by second baseman Mott Hyde. They tacked another run on in the sixth when Jake Davies hit an opposite field shot to left, a blast that signaled the end for starter E.J. Encinosa.

UM starting pitcher E.J. Encinosa went 5 1/3 innings for the ‘Canes, giving up three runs (all earned) on just four hits. However, he allowed the two big hits, a two run single and a solo home run, which brought home the first wave of Georgia Tech scores.

Jed Bradley, a potential top 20 pick in next year’s MLB draft, started for Georgia Tech and went 6 1/3 innings without factoring into the decision. He allowed three runs, two of them earned, on six hits and striking out eight.

Junior Daniel Miranda, who allowed three runs during the Georgia Tech 10th-inning scoring rally, took the loss for the ‘Canes; while Devin Stanton, who struck out Chantz Mack with two runners in scoring position, got credit for the win. Mack had Fieger resting comfortably on third, while the speedy Zeke DeVoss stole his third base of the day to advance to second.

The third and final game of the series will be Sunday at 1 p.m., back at Alex Rodriguez Park. That game will be televised regionally by CSS. Miami will throw right-hander Eric Whaley, while Georgia Tech will counter with righty Buck Farmer. Whaley leads the Hurricanes in wins (4), while Farmer enters working on a 3-1 record for the Jackets.

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

Live stats for the game will be provided through Game Tracker at HurricaneSports.com. Fans can also join the live chat, provided by Cover It Live, by visiting HurricaneSports.com as well.

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.

You 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 loss, the Hurricanes are now…

• 14 – 10 overall
• 6 – 2 in ACC play
• 47 – 28 – 2 all-time versus Georgia Tech
• 11 – 5 at Alex Rodriguez Park this season
• 6 – 5 in games when the opponent starts a right-handed pitcher
• 5 – 9 when the opponent scores first

Tonight’s Starters
Harold Martinez made his second straight start at shortstop in place of the injured Stephen Perez.

First Things First
With two RBI’s on two hits, freshman Dale Carey recorded the first multi-hit game of his career.  Carey is now on a three game hitting streak.  Coming into the beginning of the week, Carey had only recorded one hit on the year.

The Leader’s Luck
Despite the loss, the ‘Canes have won 10 out of the last 13 games since head coach Jim Morris’ return from gall bladder surgery and an infection stemming from the surgery on March 8.

Let’s Go Streaking
Georgia Tech came into the game riding a 14-game win streak, and extended that streak to 15 with the win.  Harold Martinez, despite getting on base twice, was unable to get a hit to extend his hitting streak, which ended at nine games.

Extra Good
Reliever Sam Robinson gave up a double to lead off the eighth inning. This was the first extra-base hit given up by Robinson this season, after 16 previous innings without allowing an extra base hit.  However, now with 17 innings pitched in 15 different appearances, Robinson has yet to allow a run.

Daniel Miranda also gave up the first home run of his season in the top of the 10th inning.

Series History
Tonight’s match up was the 77th all-time meeting between the two schools in a series that dates back to 1958.

Memory Lane
Miami head coach Jim Morris is familiar with the Yellow Jackets, having coached Georgia Tech from 1982-93 winning 504 games.

Successful Switch
Since moving from third base on March 11 versus Virginia Tech, Harold Martinez has resurged as a hitter going on a nine-game hitting streak. Before March 11, he was batting just .167. Since the switch, he is hitting .395 with a .425 on base percentage.

Spotless Performance
After committing a season-high six errors the night before, the Miami defense, with the same lineup, responded with an error-free performance.

Can’t close it out
All nine Georgia Tech runs in the 10th inning came with two outs.  The twelve runs by the Yellow Jackets are the most allowed by the Hurricanes this year.