May 16, 2013
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Mott Hyde launched a two-run home run for Georgia Tech, but Miami built an early lead and hung on to beat the Yellow Jackets, 8-3, Thursday night to open the teams’ series at Mark Light Stadium in Coral Gables, Fla.
Hyde finished the night 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and a triple and Zane Evans had two hits and an RBI for Tech, which slipped to 32-22 overall and 14-14 in the ACC. Miami scored twice in the first, three times in the third en route to its 34th win (34-20, 13-15).
Brad Fieger drove in a run with sacrifice fly in the first and ripped a two-run double down the left-field line in the third to help the Hurricanes build their lead. Dale Carey and Alex Hernandez each had two hits to pace Miami’s attack.
Working with the early advantage, Miami starter Eric Whaley tossed five scoreless innings with two hits and a strikeout and turned the 5-0 game over to his bullpen.
Kyle Wren led off the sixth inning with a single and eventually scored on Evans’ RBI single to end the shutout and make it a 5-1 game. The Hurricanes got two back in the bottom of the sixth on RBI singles from Garrett Kennedy and Cary, which would prove crucial.
In the seventh, A.J. Murray reached on a lead-off error and the next batter, Hyde, launched a Thomas Woodrey pitch over the wall in left for his fourth homer this season to make it 7-3. But Miami relievers A.J. Salcinces and Javi Salas combined to retire the final seven batters in order to deny Tech another comeback.
Buck Farmer was on the hook for the loss (8-4) after pitching six innings with seven runs (five earned) and six strikeouts, while Whaley earned his third win for Miami (3-1).
Wren recorded a pair of assists from his left-field position Thursday night, running his total to eight this season, which ranks tied for third nationally. Wren has eight of Tech’s 13 assists from the outfield this season.
The series continues Friday night at 7:30 p.m. in a game that can be seen on CSS and ESPN3.
