Miami baseball eliminated in ACC tournament after NC State record night

The Miami baseball team lost a 4-1 lead behind three home runs by Tommy White of North Carolina State and lost 9-6 in the ACC Tournament. North Carolina State wins Pool C after they defeated Wake Forest 11-8 on Tuesday. The three home runs by White tied the ACC Tournament record.

The Miami baseball team was eliminated from the ACC Tournament for the second straight season in pool play despite being a top-four seed. Miami will play their second game in pool play on Friday against Wake Forest in a game that has no bearing on who will advance after the two wins by NC State.

North Carolina State knocked out Miami first-team All-ACC pitcher Carson Palmquist in the fourth inning. Palmquist pitched 3.2 innings, with all six runs, five earned on six hits, four walks and three strikeouts. The bullpen was unable to hold the Wolfpack. White gave NC State the lead with his first home run in the first inning.

Miami rallied with a C.J. Kayfus RBI single followed by a Yohandy Morales three-run home run in the top of the third to take the 4-1 lead. White hit a two-run HR in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the third. A two-RBI double by first baseman LuJames Groover III put NC State ahead to stay in the fourth.

The Wolfpack added another run in the fourth following a throwing error by Miami shortstop Dominick Pitelli. Miami catcher Maxwell Romero Jr. hit a HR to right field to cut the NC State lead to 6-5. A HR by right fielder Noah Soles in the fifth and White’s third of the game in the sixth extended the lead to 9-5.

Miami rallied in the seventh with one run. Romero hit into a double play as the tying run to end the rally. Morales stuck out as the tying run at the plate for the last out in the ninth inning. The Hurricanes will play the Demon Deacons on Friday with a chance to improve their RPI while awaiting the NCAA Tournament pairings.

College Sports Madness projects the Miami baseball team as the third overall national seed in the baseball bracketology with Coastal Carolina, Florida and Long Island coming to Coral Gables. Miami was ninth in the RPI entering games on Wednesday. Wake Forest was 14th after its loss to NC State.

Miami hopes to be placed in the top eight in the NCAA Tournament. The top eight teams will host a super regional if they advance. Miami last hosted a regional and super-regional in 2016. That is also the last season Miami advanced to the College World Series. Miami has not won a regional since the 2016 season.