Wake Forest run rules Miami baseball out of ACC Tournament

The Miami baseball team had their pitching staff battered for the second game in a row. After being eliminated from semifinal contention in a 9-6 loss to North Carolina State on Wednesday. Miami lost 16-3 to Wake Forest in seven innings on Friday. Mercilessly the game ended with a 10-run rule.

The ACC utilizes a 10-run rule in the conference tournament. Wake Forest tied an ACC Tournament record with seven home runs. The game looked promising  when first baseman. C.J. Kayfus leadoff with a HR in the bottom of the first to give Miami a 1-0 lead. Wake Forest scored six in the top of the third and never looked back.

The Demon Deacons added three runs in the fourth inning, four in the sixth and three in the seventh to increase the lead to 16-3. The last four runs gave Wake Forest a cushion with the 10-run rule. Miami scored single runs in the third and fifth innings after Kayfus initially gave the Hurricanes the lead.

True freshman pitcher Karson Ligon continued his late-season troubles for Miami. Ligon pitched two innings, allowing, six hits, four earned runs with no walks and one strikeout. Five of the seven Miami pitchers allowed two or more runs. Ronaldo Gallo and Jordan Duberly were the only Miami pitchers to hold Wake Forest scoreless.

Adam Cecere led Wake Forest with hits in all four at bats, two runs scored and two RBIs on two HRs. The Miami baseball team finished the regular season and ACC Tournament allowing 32 runs in its last three games. Through games played on Wednesday, Miami ranked 41st nationally with a 4.33 earned run average.

Miami will wait until Monday to find out its NCAA Tournament fate. The Hurricanes should still be in line to host a sub regional the first weekend. The losses in the ACC Tournament could knock Miami out of the top eight nationally that would allow them to host the super regional if they would advance.