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Coral Gables, Fla. - Freshman Ryan Braun hit two home runs, including a game-winning blast in the bottom of the ninth inning, to lead the Miami Hurricanes to a come-from-behind 10-9 victory over the Wolfpack of North Carolina State Saturday afternoon in the first game of a three-game series in NCAA Baseball Super Regional Tournament action at Mark Light Field on the campus of the University of Miami.
The best-of-three series continues Sunday afternoon at Mark Light Field with a contest slated to begin at 2:35 p.m. Eastern time. Game three of the series, if needed, is slated for a 1:05 p.m. ET start Monday.
A crowd of 3,750 looked on as Braun, hitting with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, broke a 9-9 deadlock when he smashed a 1-0 pitch high over the left field fence to give the Hurricanes the victory. The home run capped a comeback by the Hurricanes, who trailed by as much as six runs at 9-3 in the sixth inning. Braun's game-winning shot was his team-best 12th game-winning hit of the season and gave the Hurricanes an all-important edge in the series whose winner advances to the College World Series.
The victory marked the first time this season that Miami has won when trailing after six innings. The Hurricanes were previously 0-11 when trailing in the late innings. The comeback tied the biggest of the season for the Hurricanes, who trailed Georgia Tech 10-4 in the second inning on March 30 at Mark Light Field.
Miami relief pitcher Shaun Valdes-Fauli (4-0) picked up the victory by working a scoreless ninth, allowing two hits and striking out one. Joey Devine (6-3) took the loss for N.C. State, working one and a third innings and allowing only one hit and one run. The blast by Braun was the freshman's 18th of the season.
The Wolfpack had built a 9-3 lead heading into the bottom half of the sixth inning by erasing an early 3-0 Miami advantage. The Hurricanes had taken the 3-0 lead in Miami's half of the first on Braun's first home run blast, a three-run shot to left that scored Danny Figueroa and Adam Ricks.
N.C. State struck back with two runs in the third. Matt Camp reached on an infield single and scored when Justin Riley was safe on a throwing error by Braun. One hitter later, Matt Orvella scored on a fielder's choice by Colt Morton. The Wolfpack tied it in the fifth when Orvella, who had reached base on a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single to center by Morton.
The Wolfpack exploded for six runs in the sixth to take a 9-3 lead. Camp gave N.C. State a 5-3 lead with a two-run single to center and Justin Riley blasted a grand slam home run (his 18th of the season) to left for a 9-3 advantage.
Miami responded immediately with five runs in the bottom half of the sixth. Gaby Sanchez popped a three-run home run to score Ricks and Braun, then Eric San Pedro doubled down the left field line to score Joey Hooft, who had walked, to trim the N.C. State lead to 9-7. Danny Figueroa singled to score San Pedro to make it 9-8.
The Hurricanes tied it in the eighth. Sanchez doubled to center field and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Hooft. Sanchez scored to tie it on a sacrifice fly to right by San Pedro, setting up the final frame.
Ryan Braun second home run of the day was the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The best-of-three series continues Sunday afternoon at Mark Light Field with a contest slated to begin at 2:35 p.m. Eastern time. Game three of the series, if needed, is slated for a 1:05 p.m. ET start Monday.
A crowd of 3,750 looked on as Braun, hitting with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, broke a 9-9 deadlock when he smashed a 1-0 pitch high over the left field fence to give the Hurricanes the victory. The home run capped a comeback by the Hurricanes, who trailed by as much as six runs at 9-3 in the sixth inning. Braun's game-winning shot was his team-best 12th game-winning hit of the season and gave the Hurricanes an all-important edge in the series whose winner advances to the College World Series.
The victory marked the first time this season that Miami has won when trailing after six innings. The Hurricanes were previously 0-11 when trailing in the late innings. The comeback tied the biggest of the season for the Hurricanes, who trailed Georgia Tech 10-4 in the second inning on March 30 at Mark Light Field.
Miami relief pitcher Shaun Valdes-Fauli (4-0) picked up the victory by working a scoreless ninth, allowing two hits and striking out one. Joey Devine (6-3) took the loss for N.C. State, working one and a third innings and allowing only one hit and one run. The blast by Braun was the freshman's 18th of the season.
The Wolfpack had built a 9-3 lead heading into the bottom half of the sixth inning by erasing an early 3-0 Miami advantage. The Hurricanes had taken the 3-0 lead in Miami's half of the first on Braun's first home run blast, a three-run shot to left that scored Danny Figueroa and Adam Ricks.
N.C. State struck back with two runs in the third. Matt Camp reached on an infield single and scored when Justin Riley was safe on a throwing error by Braun. One hitter later, Matt Orvella scored on a fielder's choice by Colt Morton. The Wolfpack tied it in the fifth when Orvella, who had reached base on a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single to center by Morton.
The Wolfpack exploded for six runs in the sixth to take a 9-3 lead. Camp gave N.C. State a 5-3 lead with a two-run single to center and Justin Riley blasted a grand slam home run (his 18th of the season) to left for a 9-3 advantage.
Miami responded immediately with five runs in the bottom half of the sixth. Gaby Sanchez popped a three-run home run to score Ricks and Braun, then Eric San Pedro doubled down the left field line to score Joey Hooft, who had walked, to trim the N.C. State lead to 9-7. Danny Figueroa singled to score San Pedro to make it 9-8.
The Hurricanes tied it in the eighth. Sanchez doubled to center field and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Hooft. Sanchez scored to tie it on a sacrifice fly to right by San Pedro, setting up the final frame.
Ryan Braun second home run of the day was the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth inning.
He learned his trade at the U of Miami from The Wizard of College Baseball, Ron Frazer (UM Head Coach 1962-92)
