Heyward helps Hurricanes handle Hogs

By Phil Stanton

CollegeBaseballInsider.com Co-Founder

@roadtoomaha

 

OMAHA, Neb. - Hey! Who was that 9-hole hitter?

 

Sophomore Jacob Heyward (right) capped a 3-for-3 day with a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth as No. 5 Miami nipped Arkansas 4-3 Monday afternoon in the first elimination game at the 2015 College World Series in front of 18,734 fans at TD Ameritrade Park.

 

The Hurricanes (50-16) will face the loser of the Florida-Virginia game on Wednesday, June 17 at 7 pm CT. The Razorbacks end their season at 40-25.

 

With the score tied at 3, Willie Abreu drove a double high off the wall in right center to lead off the bottom of the ninth. Heyward twice tried to lay down a bunt, but was unsuccessful. On a 1-2 pitch, Heyward singled to left center to drive in pinch-runner Carl Chester with the game-winner.

 

"It's a huge win," said Miami head coach Jim Morris. "Willie's double to get it going. And Mr. Heyward's day. Goodness gracious. He had an unbelievable day from the two-run homer to everything. When we were bunting there in the bottom of the ninth and he didn't get it over, I was almost glad because I just had a feeling he was going to get a hit. It was one of those days. Of course he ripped it and you knew he was going to score when they did that. Big win for our team. Really good win. And to keep us alive in the series."

 

Arkansas had a chance to take the lead in the top of the ninth. The Razorbacks loaded the bases on a single, a sacrifice, a walk and an error with two away, but a groundout to second thwarted the threat. Arkansas stranded 11 on the day.

 

The game was scoreless through four innings. Garrett Kennedy had a leadoff single to start the bottom of the fifth. Following a flyout, starter Keaton McKinney (4.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K) was removed and replaced by Jackson Lowery. With two away, Heyward launched a homer to left center to give the Hurricanes a 2-0 advantage. It was the fourth long ball of the season for Heyward, the younger brother of St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jason Heyward.

 

Arkansas rallied in the sixth. Bobby Wernes drew a leadoff walk and was forced out at second on a one-out fielder's choice off the bat of Tyler Spoon, who stole second and moved to third on an errant throw. Rick Nomura ripped a single off the glove of a diving third baseman to plate Spoon and make it a 2-1 contest.

 

The Razorbacks tied it in the seventh. Clark Eagan had a leadoff single and moved to second on a walk to Michael Bernal. With two away, Wernes singled up the middle to drive in Eagan with the tying run.

 

"I saw quite a few pitches and kept fouling pitches off," Wernes said. "I finally got an elevated fastball and got enough barrel on. I was trying to get it on to the next guy. I've got the best hitter in the nation behind me, so I'm going to see something to hit for sure."

 

Miami reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the frame. Heyward had a one-out single and stole second. Ricky Eusebio hit a grounder to short and Heyward broke for third. The throw was wild and Heyward scored to make it 3-2.

 

"Honestly it was just reaction," Heyward said. "I knew I had the speed to get to third base on that play, to try my best to get there. Just knowing in the College World Series every time somebody was aggressive in the game they always made the other team make a mistake. I wanted to be aggressive and take the opportunity, and when I slid in I saw the ball go away and [third base coach] Gino [DiMare] was yelling, go home, go home. I just went straight home."

 

Arkansas rallied again in the eighth. Spoon led off with a base hit and was safe at second on an infield hit up the middle by Nomura. On a 1-2 pitch after failing to get a bunt down, Brett McAfee showed bunt and pulled the bat back. With the runners moving, he hit a grounder through the spot where the second baseman had been for a single, driving home Spoon with the tying run to make it 3-3.

 

Heyward finished 3 for 3 with two runs and three RBI.

 

Bryan Garcia (6-2, 0.2 IP, BB) was the fifth Hurricane pitcher and picked up the win.

 

Nomura went 3 for 4 with an RBI, while Eagan had two hits and a run. Spoon was 1 for 5 with two runs.

 

"I just appreciate the effort that this team put out this year," Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said. "We've come a long way. And I'm so proud of them, continuing to play so hard. You saw a little bit of what we've been doing for the last 45 days in today's game, just grinding and trying to stay in games, trying to find a way to win a game. And we played a lot of close games."

 

Zach Jackson (5-1, 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K) suffered his first loss of the season.