Jun 16, 2008 - 11:46 PM
0 shoutsOMAHA, Nebraska (Ticker) -- Jemile Weeks hit a two-run homer and Dennis Raben and Jason Hagerty each had two-run singles as No. 1 Miami eliminated No. 4 Florida State from the College World Series with a 7-5 victory on Monday.
The tournament's top overall seed, the Hurricanes had fallen into the loser's bracket after they dropped a 4-3 decision to Georgia on Saturday. Florida State lost to Stanford, 16-5, also on Saturday.
"It was a normal Florida State-Miami game," said Miami manager Jim Morris, whose team won three out of the four meetings with Florida State this season. "It's amazing how many end up being one-run games. For our guys it was a great team effort. It was a huge win for us. I'm very proud of our guys and how they hung in there."
Miami (53-10) had allowed four runs in the ninth inning during its loss to the Bulldogs and nearly blew another big lead Monday.
Trailing, 7-2, in the top of the ninth, Florida State put the first two runners on base and, after a pair of groundouts, had three straight batters reach, closing the deficit to 7-5 after Jason Stidman's RBI single to center. Buster Posey then walked to load the bases but Miami reliever Carlos Gutierrez got Jack Rye to bounce into a fielder's choice to second to end the game.
The three men left on base brought Florida State's total up to 17 for the game, which is tied for fourth all-time in the College World Series.
"If you'd told me before the game that we'd have 18 hits and no errors, I would have taken my chances," Florida State coach Mike Martin said. "I give a lot of credit to Miami, they pitched well, played an outstanding game and they deserved to win."
The Seminoles (54-14) took a 1-0 lead in the first, but Weeks hit a two-run blast to right field in the third, sparking a four-run inning. Raben had a single to center with two outs and the bases loaded later in the inning.
Posey had an RBI double for Florida State in the fourth, but Hagerty delivered a two-run single to right with two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh, giving the Hurricanes a 6-2 bulge. Blake Tekotte homered in the eighth to extend Miami's lead to five.
"I was looking for something over the plate," Hagerty said. "I was sitting on a fast ball out over the plate and got it."
Eric Erickson allowed one run in five innings to earn the win, pitching in relief of Miami starter David Gutierrez, who left in the top of the second after taking a line drive off his right arm.
Miami will play Stanford (40-23-2) in its next game of the double-elimination event on Wednesday. The Cardinal dropped a 4-3 decision to No. 8 Georgia (43-23-1).
Matt Cerione drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning to fuel the Bulldogs, who will wait until Friday to face the winner of the Hurricanes-Cardinal matchup.
"That's a tough call and the umpire's decision whether it is fair or foul." Cerione said. "Then (Bryce Massanari) got hit on the next pitch ... Coach said to stay up on my legs and look for a pitch to square up on. I did and was able to get a big hit."
The Georgia trio of Stephen Dodson, Alex McRee and Josh Fields pitched extremely well in this one. The group faced just three more than the minimum in its six innings of work and combined to allow just one hit and three walks while striking out four.
Reliever McRee struck out two in 1 1/3 innings to pick up the win and Fields earned his 17th save.
"It's very satisfying to see," Fields said of his team's brilliant performance from the bullpen. "What makes it even better is that it hasn't always been like this, and we've worked on it a lot. Dean (Weaver) and McRee stepping up for has been huge - those guys are able to pitch the seventh and eighth so that I can get the ninth."
"(Our bullpen) is able to change momentum for us by getting quick outs," Georgia coach Dave Perno said.
Stanford coach Mark Marquess remained positive despite the outcome.
"It was a great game. We had a chance to win it," he said. "I was very impressed with them (Georgia). They pitched well and really silenced our bats. It was a tough loss for us, but congratulations to Georgia."
