Miami baseball riding seven-game win-streak

After starting the season 5-8 — with losses to Rutgers, Florida Atlantic, Appalachian State, South Florida, Florida and Illinois State — Miami baseball has responded with a seven-game win-streak.

Over the past nine days, UM has taken out out Virginia Tech, Florida Atlantic and Wake Forest. The Canes are 6-0 for the first time in ACC history and after mid-week showdowns with Central Florida and Florida Gulf Coast, will welcome Georgia Tech to A-Rod Park this weekend.

Miami opened the sweep of Wake Forest with a 4-1 win on Friday night. The Canes played a little small ball en route to a run and first inning lead, capitalizing on a Zeke DeVoss walk, a Stephen Perez sacrifice bunt, a Nathan Melendres bunt – advancing DeVoss to third, with Melendres stealing second on a throwing error and DeVoss eventually stealing home.

Rony Rodriguez struck out swinging and Harold Martinez grounded out to short, but UM got on the board by manufacturing a run the Jim Morris way – which is needed if the Canes are going to turn things around and make a run in 2011.

More small ball led to a third inning run and after the Canes posted two in the top of the sixth, it was a 4-0 lead. Eleven hits on the day to Wake’s four, as Bryan Radziewski went 6.1 innings for the win, giving up three hits and one run.

Saturday’s game was won in come-from-behind fashion as the Canes entered the ninth down, 3-2. DeVoss started the inning with a walk and abruptly stole second. Perez went down swinging, but a batter later, Melendres doubled down the right field line and scored DeVoss. From there a Martinez single brought Melendres home and put Miami up, 4-3.

Daniel Miranda entered in the bottom of the ninth, gave up two hits, but took care of business and got the Canes out of a jam.

Sunday’s win was defined by a three-run top of the fifth for Miami. After giving up three in the bottom of the fourth, falling behind 3-1, the Canes responded.

Rodriguez started the tear with a lead-off home run. David Vilasuso flied out to center, but DeVoss singled to short and advanced to third when Perez doubled down the left field line.

Melendres struck out after a Demon Deacons pitching change, but Martinez singed up the middle and drove in two, putting the Canes ahead for good. Miami added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, while the defense held strong and kept Wake Forest off the board for the final five innings. Eric Whaley got the win, pitching 6.0 innings and allowing three runs on four hits. Sam Robinson, Adam Sargent and Miranda took care of the final three, allowing no runs, no hits and striking out two.

Miami takes on Central Florida on Tuesday, putting a seven-game win streak on the line. A Wednesday showdown with Florida Gulf Coast is one final warm up before getting back to ACC action as Georgia Tech heads to town for a three-game series this weekend.

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