May 13, 2007

Box Score

Winston-Salem, N.C. - Miami junior right-hander Enrique Garcia turned in a complete game, nine-strikeout performance to lift the Hurricanes past Wake Forest, 2-1, in Sunday's series finale at Hooks Stadium.

The loss dropped Wake Forest (29-24, 12-15 ACC) into a tie for eighth place in the ACC standings with Boston College heading into the final weekend of conference play. The Deacons travel to Virginia Tech next week while the Eagles host Virginia. Boston College holds the tiebreaker between the schools.  Therefore, Wake Forest must win one more game than Boston College next weekend to qualify for the ACC Tournament in Jacksonville.

Wake Forest had its chances against Miami (32-20, 14-13 ACC), but Garcia pitched out of several late jams. Wake Forest stranded the tying run in scoring position in each of the final four innings. In all, Wake Forest left nine runners on base and bounced into two critical double plays.

Garcia (6-3) scattered seven hits over nine innings, walked five and hit two batters, but yielded just one Deacon run. It came in the first inning. With one out, Ben Terry singled and stole second. Later, Willy Fox dumped a single into short right field that easily scored Terry. But Garcia kept a clean sheet over the final eight innings.

Ben Hunter (5-6) was the tough luck loser for the Deacons. In only his fifth start of the year, Hunter pitched six strong innings, allowed two runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and five walks. Like Garcia, Hunter successfully pitched out of a couple sticky situations. With two on and two out in the third, he fanned Hurricane left fielder Mark Sobolewski.

Miami, though, broke through in the fourth inning with RBI singles by Ryan Jackson and Roger Tomas. The Hurricanes continued to threaten with the bases loaded and one out. But Hunter coaxed Jemile Weeks into a 6-3 double play to avoid further damage.

Behind Hunter, Wake Forest's bullpen was sharp. Garrett Bullock, Eric Niesen and Josh Ellis combined to throw three shutout innings.

In the top of the first, the Hurricanes appeared to have taken a 2-0 lead. With two runners on base, Dennis Raben hit a looping ball into that was initially ruled to be trapped by Terry, the center fielder. After Deacon coach Rick Rembielak protested, the umpires conferenced and overturned the call to end the inning and keep the game scoreless. Video provided by Comcast Sports Southeast, which televised the game, clearly showed Terry making the catch.

One of Wake Forest's golden opportunities to tie or take the lead came in the sixth inning. Brett Linnenkohl led off with a walk. Terry sacrificed him to second. After Allan Dykstra was intentionally walked, Fox loaded the bases with an infield single. Dustin Garcia slammed the door on the Deacon rally by getting Dustin Hood to ground into a double play.

Wake Forest had one last gasp in the ninth as Evan Ocheltree drew a one-out walk and Dan Rosaia walked with two out. But Linnenkohl's comebacker to the mound end the game.

Sunday marked the final home contest for Deacon seniors Ellis, Rosaia, Sean Souders and Kirby Wedekind.

The Deacons travel to Blacksburg, Va., for the final regular season series of the season beginning Thursday night at 7:00 p.m.