Hurricanes Tripped Up by Florida State 6-1

April 21, 2012

1 2 3 4 5 6 7	8	9	R	H	E	W: M. Compton (7-0)
Hurricanes	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	6	4	L: E. Whaley (3-3)
Seminoles	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	X	4	7	0

Box Score | Season Statistics

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The No. 12 Miami Hurricanes continued their series with the homestanding No. 2 Florida State Seminoles on Satruday, dropping their second straight contest with their in-state rivals by a final score of 6-1.

In a game marred by a 97-minute rain delay, defensive miscues and a lack of timely hits plagued the Hurricanes (26-13, 12-8 ACC) at Dick Howser Stadium. The team committed four errors leading to three unearned runs, all of which were charged to junior righthander Eric Whaley (3-3). The Pompano Beach, Fla. native issued a career-high six walks, lasting only four innings in his shortest stint of the season.

The Seminoles (32-7, 18-2 ACC) used a big four-run inning to build a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, helped by two errors from the Hurricanes and a balk from Whaley. After Stephen McGee opened the second frame with a single, Jose Brizuela connected on a grounder to first base that looked like a potential double play ball. But Esteban Tresgallo’s throw to Stephen Perez pulled the junior infielder off the bag, leaving both runners safe on the play. Both McGee and Brizuela would advance on the balk call, after which Whaley walked Justin Gonzalez to load the bases.

John Holland came up with an RBI single up the middle that would plate two, while a throwing error charged to centerfielder Dale Carey on the play advanced the remaining baserunners to second and third. The damage was not yet over, however, as back-to-back sacrifice flies from Seth Miller and leadoff hitter Sherman Johnson gave the Seminoles an early 4-0 advantage.

Similar to his fellow freshman Brandon Leibrandt on Friday night, Mike Compton (7-0) delivered an impressive pitching performance to keep the Seminoles in cruise control. Though he lasted just five innings, Compton allowed only five hits and struck out three batters

The Hurricanes loaded the bases in the sixth inning with no outs but were only able to score one run. After singles from Garrett Kennedy and Tyler Palmer, Stephen Perez made his way to first on a rare fielder’s choice, no-out play. But Luke Weaver, who entered the game in place of Compton in a volatile situation, held the Hurricanes to only one run. After Chantz Mack hit a sacrifice fly to plate Kennedy, Weaver got Rony Rodriguez looking before inducing an inning-ending popout from Brad Fieger.

Chris Diaz, who entered the game in the fifth inning for Whaley, pitched well for Head Coach Jim Morris out of the bullpen. The freshman lefthander pitched 3.1 innings, allowing only two hits while striking out two batters. He was charged for a run that came nearly two hours after the batter originally reached base, as the rain delay took place with two outs in the eighth. The Seminoles plated two more runs after the 97-minute delay, clinching the series with a 6-1 win.

The two teams will play the series finale on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch set for 12:30 p.m.