B-Rads 11 strikeouts set pace in 5-0 win

The University of Miami's Bryan Radziewski struck out a career-high 11 in just five innings of work, leading Miami to a victory over in state rival University of Central Florida at home on Wednesday evening, 5-0.

"It feels great (to have a career-high in strikeouts) - hard work pays off," Radziewski said.

"It's great to have B-Rad back in the rotation and throwing well," coach Jim Morris said. "I feel that he can beat anybody on a given day."

The Hurricanes are now 12-2; the Knights are 7-6.

Miami's offense was keyed by David Thompson's second home run of the season, and the first of his career at Alex Rodriguez Park. Brad Fieger also extended his hit streak to 13 games with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth.

"He left a fastball up over the outside part of the plate and the wind helped a little bit and the ball went over the fence," said Thompson. "It feels real good to finally get one here (at Alex Rodriguez Park)."

The Canes pitching staff put forth a tremendous effort highlighted by Radziewski's performance, who in addition to striking out 11 pitched five innings of no-hit baseball.

Radziewski (1-0), who picked up his first win of the season, walked only one batter and did not allow a run while facing the minimum. The rest of the Hurricane's pitching staff filled in admirably the rest of the way for Radziewski, who was on a strict pitch count (60 pitches), in only his third appearance of the season after recovering from an offseason shoulder injury.

"I'm not really at full strength yet, my velocity is not there all the way," Radziewski said. "It was a grind. It's an uphill battle and I'm still working."

"You got to protect him ... you got to give them a chance to be healthy and pitch as long an they can," Morris said. "Wasn't no question at the end of five he was out of there when his pitch count got up to 60, I mean I let him go seven more pitches really than I wanted him to."

After Radziewski struck out the side to start the first inning, Chantz Mack walked with two outs to bring Thompson to the plate. Thompson hit an outside pitch that cleared the right field fence, giving Miami an early 2-0 lead. The Canes added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Fieger hit an RBI single into right field.

Eric Whaley replaced Radziewski in the top of the sixth inning and threw two complete innings allowing two hits and striking out two while walking one.

The Canes would add another run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Michael Broad was able to draw a bases loaded walk. Miami used both Alex Fernandez and AJ Salcines to navigate a scoreless eighth inning. The Canes would add one more run in the bottom of the eighth when Alex San Juan delivered an RBI single into right field.

Eric Nedeljkovic came on in the ninth and pitched a scoreless top half to secure the victory. In total the Canes pitching staff struck out 18 batters while surrendering just five hits and two walks.

The Hurricanes kick off ACC conference play this weekend with a series against Duke at Alex Rodriguez Park.