Section B Online

Wednesday May 26, 2010

	AT BAT				BALL					STRIKE					OUT						H/E
		1	5			3					2					2					H
				1	2	3	4	5	6		7	8	9	10			RUNS		HITS			E
FSU				0	0	2	0	1	0		0	0	0					3		6		1
UM				0	3	0	2	3	0		1	0	X					9		7		2

Seminoles no match for Miami

Andrew Skwara

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The script seemed to be following suit once again in the Florida State-Miami series.

Just like the last time the two rivals met, the Hurricanes (40-15) built up a big lead early on, going up 8-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning in the opening day of the ACC Tournament Wednesday night at NewBridge Bank Park. But, this time around, FSU didn't pull off a wild comeback. Actually, the Seminoles never put together any kind of real threat as the Hurricanes cruised to a 9-3 rout and handed the 'Noles their fourth straight loss.

Three Miami relievers combined to limit the Seminoles (39-17) to just one hit over the last four innings and never allowed a base runner to get past second base during that stretch.

"They pitched very well," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "They made the big plays when they needed to and they got the big hits when they needed them. They deserved to win."

Whether or not FSU deserves to host an NCAA Regional, which the program has done in each of the last three seasons, now appears to be in question. Sixteen teams are awarded Regionals and the Seminoles entered the postseason ranked 14th in the Baseball America poll and 17th in the Collegiate Baseball Poll.

The Seminoles face top seed and top-ranked Virginia (46-10), which beat Boston College 6-4 in the first game of the day, on Thursday at 4 p.m. Brian Busch (4-1, 4.42 ERA) will go against the Cavaliers' Robert Morey (9-2, 3.14 ERA).

FSU starter Sean Gilmartin (6-7) got the loss against Miami after giving up three home runs, including back-to-back shots to right field in the second by Miami's seventh and eight hitters, centerfielder Nathan Melendres and designated hitter Michael Broad, who combined for just three homers in ACC regular-season games. Miami's leading power hitter Harold Martinez crushed a Gilmartin curveball behind the left field fence for a three-run homer in the fifth to put the 'Canes up 8-3.

The Martinez blast came with two outs and both base runners had reached on walks.

"That's what happens when you walk a guy with two outs," Gilmartin said. "That's why you can't do that."

Martin didn't place the blame on Gilmartin, who lasted 6 2/3 innings, giving up six hits, nine runs (seven earned) while walking four and striking out four. He made 120 pitches.

"Gilmartin had a good outing," Martin said. "He did not pitch badly. You just got to credit Miami. When they got opportunities they cashed in."

Miami freshman Eric Whaley (5-1) certainly deserves plenty of the credit. Whaley got the win in what was just the second start of his career, going five innings and giving up five hits and three runs (two earned). Whaley only walked one batter.

"I'm nervous all the time; I'd be nervous if I had Nolan Ryan out there," said Miami coach Jim Morris when asked whether he had any reservations starting an inexperienced freshman. "But, Eric had pitched well in his last outing against Virginia last weekend and that's when we decided to start him."

Florida State appeared to be engineering a big inning of its own in the top of the fifth when second baseman Devon Travis led off with a triple off the right field wall. First basemen Jayce Boyd followed with a walk. Then, centerfielder Tyler Holt hit a ball sharply toward the left side of the infield.

But, Miami shortstop Chris Palaez snagged the ball with a back hand stab and a pair of quick throws from Palaez and second basemen Frankie Ratcliff produced a marvelous double play. Travis scored to cut Miami's lead to 5-3, but that would be the Seminoles' last run and they would manage just one more hit the rest of the way.

"That was a real nice play," Martin said of the double play. "If (Palaez) doesn't come up with that we've got runners at first and third and no out and we've got a lot of momentum."

The only other pitcher FSU used was Robert Benincasa, who gave up just one hit over 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

FSU scored two runs in the second when Holt doubled down the left field line and an errant cut off throw allowed Boyd to cross home. Johnson got Holt home with a deep sacrifice fly to center.

The Seminoles have now been outscored 25-10 in their last three games (they were beaten 8-4 and 8-3 in their last two regular-season games at Clemson) and have just 17 hits over their last 27 innings. But, Martin says the struggles have nothing to do with a lack of effort and feels his team remains capable of turning things around.

"I saw a club fight for everything it could," Martin said. "I'm proud of the fight I saw in them today. We aren't playing chopped liver. If you make a mistake (Miami) is going to make you pay for it. That's what happened today."

Notables

FSU's fourth, fifth and six hitters (James Ramsey, Stuart Tapley and Stephen Cardullo) combined to go 0-for-11.

The short dimensions of the ball park (approximately 360 feet to the gaps, 400 to center and 315 down the lines) contributed to at least one of the home runs Gilmartin surrendered. Broad's solo homer barely cleared the right field wall.

Miami and FSU are now 5-5 against one another at neutral-site games. Five of those 10 meetings have occurred in the College World Series.

Miami's first three hitters - Zeke DeVoss (.276), Scott Lawson (.294) and Ratcliff (.285) all entered the series hitting under .300. All three of FSU's hitters - Holt (.341) , Johnson (.344) and Mike McGee (.332) - entered well above .300.

FSU holds a 6-5 all-time record versus Virginia in the ACC Tournament and the lower seed has won each of the last three meetings in the postseason event.

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