May 12, 2007

Box Score

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Gus Menendez hit a two-out single in the top of the 14th inning to score Jamile Weeks from second base, lifting Miami to a 9-8 win over Wake Forest here Saturday, completing a suspended game that began on Friday.

The second game of the key three-game ACC series began immediately after the conclusion of Game 1. Miami improved to 31-19 overall and 13-12 in the ACC. Wake Forest fell to 28-23 and 11-14.

The Deacons and Hurricanes were tied 8-8 after 11 innings on Friday when the game was suspended because of darkness.

Eric Niesen (5-5) was saddled with the loss despite a solid effort over two days. Niesen pitched two scoreless innings -- the 10th and 11th -- on Friday. On Saturday, he struck out the side in the 12th inning and held the Hurricanes scoreless once more in the 13th.

In the 14th inning, Weeks hit a one-out single and Wake Forest turned to its ace reliever, senior Josh Ellis, who promptly walked Dennis Raben and setting the stage for the heroics of Menendez.

Eric Erickson (8-3) earned the win for the Hurricanes. Scheduled as the Game 2 starter, Erickson began Game 1 Saturday in the 12th inning. In three innings of work, Erickson allowed just two hits.

Wake Forest has played nine extra-inning games this season. On Friday, the Deacons had to overcome deficits of 7-0 and 8-2 just to get the game into extra frames.

Trailing 8-2 in the bottom of the ninth on Friday, Tyler Smith capped a six-run Deacon rally with a three-run home run to knot the game at 8-8. Niesen came in to pitch two near-perfect innings in the 10th and the 11th before darkness forced the game to be suspended until today.