March 21, 2008

Box Score

Fourth-ranked Miami hit six homeruns and Wake Forest couldn't hold an early three-run lead as the Hurricanes took game one of a three game series in Coral Gables, Fla., 17-4.

The Demon Deacons jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning when Weldon Woodall doubled off the top of the fence in left field off Miami starter Eric Erickson. The hit scored Dustin Hood and Willy Fox, who slid under the tag of Miami catcher Jason Hagerty and narrowly beat a throw to home plate.

Wake led 2-0 heading into the second inning.

The Deacs extended their lead to 3-0 in the second inning when centerfielder Ben Terry doubled off the left field fence to score Austin Jones, who singled two batters earlier. The lead would be short-lived.

Wake held a 3-2 advantage going into the bottom of the third, until Miami hit the first of its six homeruns for the game. Following a walk to the Hurricanes' Yonder Alonso, right-fielder Dennis Raben homered to deep right-center field off Wake starter Ben Hunter, giving the Canes a 4-3 advantage.

Miami stretched its lead in the bottom of the fifth when Mark Sobolewski homered to deep right field following a lead-off double by Alonso. Four batters later, Miami's Blake Tekotte was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in designated hitter, Joey Terdoslavich. The Canes led 7-3 at the end of the fifth.

The Canes used a pair of homers in the bottom of the sixth to extend their four-run lead. Alonso led off the inning with a homerun to left field off Wake reliever Phil Negus. The homer was Alonso's fifth of the season.

Following a double to the right-center gap by Sobolewski, Terdoslavisch homered to right field and Miami led 10-3 at the end of the sixth.

In the bottom of the seventh, it was the long ball again that kept the Canes out in front. With runners on first and second and nobody out, it was second baseman Jemile Weeks who connected for a three-run shot to give Miami a 13-3 advantage.

Deacon pitchers continued to have problems keeping the ball inside the park and Hagerty's grand slam off Wake reliever Ryan McGrath in the seventh made the score 17-3.

Hunter pitched four and two-thirds innings for Wake, giving up five earned runs on six hits. The senior threw 106 pitches in the game and with the loss goes to 1-3 on the season.

Erickson got the win for the Hurricanes and improves to 5-0 on the year.

The Deacs fall to 11-8 overall and 4-3 in ACC play with the loss and are now 5-15 against the Canes all-time. Wake is 1-9 all-time in Coral Gables.

Miami improves to 16-2 overall and 6-1 in the ACC.

Game two of the three-game series is set for 7 p.m. Saturday. Wake's Garrett Bullock will get the start against Miami's Chris Hernandez.