Kreuter, Villasuso
April 9, 2011
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Box Score  | Season Stats | Postgame Notes
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – On a night where the University of Miami Hurricanes celebrated the 2001 National Championship, it was the 2011 squad that brought back the memories of yesteryear when they used to outslug opponents. Miami (20-11, 10-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) pounded out 16 hits in a 14-13 victory in extra innings over the NC State Wolfpack (18-14, 5-9 ACC) Saturday night at Alex Rodriguez Park in Coral Gables, Fla. For UMiami 18th-year head coach Jim Morris, earning his 1,300th career Division I victory didn’t appear to be as tough as it was just seven innings into Saturday’s contest. In the end, the win was all that was needed, and the `Canes won their third league series of the 2011 campaign – while going for the sweep tomorrow afternoon. After blowing a nine-run lead (13-4) after seven innings of baseball, the `Canes loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but could not push a run across. In the 10th, however, sophomore Cade Kreuter led off the inning with a double, and Dale Carey advanced him to third on a sacrifice bunt. With the outfield playing in for the Wolfpack, UMiami catcher David Villasuso hit a long, walk-off single over the head of center fielder Brett Williams – sending the Hurricanes faithful home happy. A long, run-filled affair, the Hurricanes seemed in control of the game for the entire night – especially after they took a 13-4 lead at the end of the seventh frame. The game, however, took a wild turn in the top of the eighth. Visiting NC State scored eight runs, including three off a walk or hit-by-pitch, helping trim the margin at 13-12. The Wolfpack had three hits in the eight-run, eighth inning – including a two-run home run by third baseman Andrew Ciencin. However, four walks and a hit batter contributed to the rough inning. The `Canes could seemingly not throw strikes, and let NC State creep back into the game, as Miami required four pitchers to get three outs in the top-half of the inning. The game took an even wilder turn when in the ninth – after closer Daniel Miranda had retired the first two batters – NC State center fielder Brett Williams tripled to put himself into scoring position. The next batter, shortstop Chris Diaz, hit a screaming line drive just past the outstretched glove of first baseman Rony Rodriguez that erased the nine-run Wolfpack deficit and tied the game at 13-all. The Pack originally jumped out to the early 2-0 advantage in the top of the third inning. After two hits got runners to the corners, Matt Bergquist hit a foul pop-up that Rodriguez caught, but sent him spiraling into the dugout, allowing Brett Williams to score on the play. A two-out RBI single brought home the second run of the inning. Meanwhile, UMiami started its own offensive assault in the home-half of the third. Trailing 2-0, Miami answered with four runs of its own – all with two-outs. After consecutive one-out walks to freshmen Dale Carey and Shane Rowland, sophomore second baseman Zeke DeVoss hit into a fielder’s choice that advanced the runners to second and third, respectively. Chantz Mack then hit a slow roller that snuck under the glove of third baseman Andrew Ciencin, scoring Carey – and Melendres followed up with a RBI single of his own. Harold Martinez walked to load the bases, and then Williams walked Rodriguez on four pitches to force home Mack. That was the end of the night for starter Vance Williams, and originally scheduled Saturday starter Rob Chamra toed the rubber for the Pack. It wouldn’t matter, as Brad Fieger continued his torrid hitting with an RBI single to right that capped the four-run rally for the homestanding Hurricanes. The Canes added another three scores in the fourth. Carey started the inning with a double to left, and Rowland laid down a sacrifice bunt advancing Carey to third. With two-strikes on him, DeVoss looped an RBI single to center, and quickly stole second for his ACC-best 19th stolen base of the season. Mack roped a doubled down the left field line to plate DeVoss. After a bunt single by Melendres, Martinez bounced a single through the left side of the infield to drive home the seventh Hurricanes run, giving UMiami a seemingly comfortable 7-2 lead after four innings of baseball. In the fifth, the `Canes found a new way to score. After hits by Fieger, Pelaez and Carey in order to load the bases; Rowland drove in Fieger with a sac fly. But, with two outs, Carey was caught in a rundown at first base, outlasting the Wolfpack defense long enough for Chris Pelaez to race home and beat the throw from the NC State second baseman. The Canes tacked on three vital runs in the seventh, highlighted by an RBI single by Harold Martinez and a two-run double by Rodriguez. It was the fourth multi-run inning of the game for the Hurricanes, and brought the score to 13-4. Sophomore Eric Whaley started on the mound for the Hurricanes, and went six innings, giving up four earned runs and eight hits before giving way to the bullpen – failing to factor into Saturday night’s decision. The Wolfpack starter, Vance Williams, went just 2 2/3 before he was chased, giving up four runs, although none were earned. UM’s bullpen of Sam Robinson, Adam Sargent and Javi Salas all were tagged for eight combined earned runs before junior closer Daniel Miranda earned his second win of the season – though allowing the game-tying run in the ninth. UMiami sophomore righty E.J. Encinosa toes the rubber for the Hurricanes tomorrow, sporting a 4-1 record with a 2.37 ERA. NC State hands the ball to left-hander Grant Sasser. Sunday’s contest is set to begin at 1 p.m., back at Alex Rodriguez Park, as the `Canes look for their third ACC sweep of an opponent this season (including a two-game doubleheader sweep of Boston College on the road last weekend). 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. 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…
Morris Milestone Comes In Style Tick-Tock “V” for Victory Double-Digit Delight Laying Down the Leadoff Packing the Park Production in the Clutch Doubles Abound Fieger on Fire Narrow Escape Frustration in the First |
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