NC State Takes Series Opener in 13 innings over Miami, 5-3
April 14, 2007
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – – NC State (25-10, 10-6 ACC) took advantage of two Miami errors in the top of the 13th inning to hold on for a 5-3 win in 13 innings in the Atlantic Coast Conference series opener at Mark Light Field Friday night. Yonder Alonso and Dennis Raben each had three hits for the Hurricanes (21-15, 7-9 ACC), who out-hit the Wolfpack, 10-7, but stranded 12 baserunners.
Seven different NC State players had at least one hit. Caleb Mangum added two RBI for the Wolfpack hitting his fifth home run of the season in the top of the third.
Miami was celebrating the 25th anniversary of the 1982 national championship in baseball – the school’s first. Former players were honored before the game.
The game lasted four hours and 11 minutes. Miami also played in its longest game since a 17-inning affair against Florida State in Tallahassee in 2000. It was the longest home game since a 13-inning game against Florida Atlantic in 1993.
Miami starter Scott Maine tossed seven strong innings, matching a season-high with seven strikeouts. Maine scattered five hits and allowed only one earned run. David Gutierrez, Dennis Raben, Alex Koronis and Teddy Kaufman combined to pitch the final six innings. Koronis (3-2) ended up with the loss as he allowed two earned runs on two walks in 1 2/3 innings. Miami pitchers combined to strike out 13 batters.
State reliever Jeff Stallings improved to 3-0 as he pitched the final two scoreless innings limiting Miami to one hit. Starter Eric Surkamp pitched into the seventh inning, striking out eight in 6 2/3 innings. He allowed three earned runs on seven hits. Eryk McConnell threw 4 1/3 innings in relief and struck out five as State pitchers struck out 15 Hurricanes.
The Wolfpack broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the 13th capitalizing on two Miami errors. Vince Gutierrez led off with a walk. He reached third on an errant pickoff throw and scored on a throwing error at third base giving NC State a 4-3 lead. After a walk was issued to Ramon Corona, Joe Florio doubled down the right field line to score Corona and put the Wolfpack ahead, 5-3.
Raben’s solo home run in the bottom of the fourth drew the Hurricanes within, 3-1.
Miami tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Blake Tekotte and Roger Tomas hit back-to-back singles. Alonso then walked loading the bases. Mark Sobolewski drew a bases loaded walk bringing UM within, 3-2. Gus Menedez’s infield single tied the game, 3-3.
NC State scored a run in the top of the second on Dallas Poulk’s RBI single to right field putting the Wolfpack ahead, 1-0.
NC State took the 3-0 lead in the top of the third when Caleb Mangum hit a two-run home run down the left field line.
Game Notes: Raben hit his sixth home run of the season in the fourth inning. He also made two appearances in a game on the mound for the second straight weekend.
