No.20 Miami 7, Wake Forest 3: Gil and Amditis Power ‘Canes to Victory

Michael Amditis and Ray Gil combined to go 9-9 with four combined RBIs to give Miami a Friday night win over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. It was a good recovery win after the Hurricanes dropped their mid-week game against UCF, and it makes Miami 35-15 (15-10 ACC) on the season.

Miami got off to a quick start in the top of the first inning, scoring the first run of the game with a Ray Gil RBI double. However, Wake Forest managed an immediate response, tying the game at 1 when Bobby Seymour knocked an RBI single to left.

The Hurricanes pulled ahead for good with a two-run top of the fourth. Ray Gil started the inning with a hit, and JP Gates drove a ground-rule double to center field to put two runners in scoring position for Michael Amditis. The redshirt-sophomore drove a single just past the outstretched glove of Patrick Frick to drive in two and make the game 3-1.

The Demon Deacons pulled within one after scoring in the bottom of the fourth, but Miami pulled away yet again with another two-run inning in the sixth. Once again Ray Gil and Michael Amditis created offense for Miami. Gil led off the frame with a double, and Amditis drove him in with a double of his own, gaining his third RBI of the night in the process. After Alex Toral singled to push Amditis to third, Chad Crosbie knocked a sac-fly to score the fifth run of the evening for Miami.

Brian Van Belle cruised through 6.2 innings before being replaced by Daniel Federman after walking a batter. The junior struck out two while walking three, and did a good job of forcing weak contact and letting his defense work behind him. That defense was very effective tonight, making no errors in the game.

In the bottom of the eighth the game almost slipped away from Miami. Daniel Federman struggled to start the inning, allowing two consecutive base hits to Chris Lanzilli and Bobby Seymour. Federman managed to strike out the next batter, but a walk to Michael Ludowig that loaded the bases spelled the end for Miami’s set-up man. Closer Greg Veliz came in to try to avoid disaster for the ‘Canes. Things looked bleak when Veliz walked the first batter he faced to allow a run to score, but two strikeouts got the Hurricanes out of the inning after allowing just one run.

The ‘Canes put the game out of reach with their third two-run inning in the top of the ninth. Adrian Del Castillo and Ray Gil started the inning with a walk and single respectively, and Isaac Quinones advanced them both to scoring position with a groundout. Michael Amditis was intentionally walked to load the bases for Alex Toral, and the sophomore grounded a single between the first and second basemen to make the game 7-3.

Greg Veliz returned to pitch the ninth, and shut down Wake Forest to earn his eighth save of the season. While the Hurricanes played an all-around great game to start off the weekend well, the win was bittersweet, as OF Gabe Rivera left the game in the first inning after falling on the sloped warning track at David F. Couch Ballpark and slamming his shoulder into the outfield fence.

Miami is now tied for second with North Carolina in the ACC Coastal Division, just one game behind first-place Georgia Tech. The Hurricanes are also in the top four of the standings for the entire ACC with just two weekends left to play before the ACC Tournament: which means the ‘Canes are competing not only for their own division, but also to be the top seed in a Pool in Durham a week and a half from now.

Game Info

Winning Pitcher: Brian Van Belle (8-2, 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K)

Losing Pitcher: Colin Peluse (3-7, 5.1 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)

Save: Greg Veliz (8)

(Box score posted when available)

Next Game

Date & Time: Saturday, May 11, 4:00 P.M. Eastern

Hurricanes Starter: Slade Cecconi (5-3, 4.10 ERA)

Wake Forest Starter: Jared Shuster (4-3, 6.34 ERA)

Radio: WVUM 90.5 FM

Television: ACC Network Extra