No. 1 Miami Gets By Cal in 13th, 4-3

Charles Johnson of Miami hit deep fly balls for outs in each of his first four at-bats against California in the opening game of the College World Series.

Normally, that might be cause for frustration. But Friday, it qualified as excellent preparation.

With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 13th inning, Johnson, in his seventh plate appearance, lifted a fly ball to right, driving in the run with the sacrifice fly that gave the top-seeded Hurricanes a 4-3 victory before a crowd of 11,000 at Rosenblatt Stadium. Johnson had also singled in the 12th.

Miami (54-8) plays Sunday against Cal State Fullerton, a 7-2 winner over Florida State. Cal (35-27) plays the Seminoles.

Johnson’s game-winning fly came against left-hander Jon Zuber (6-4), who pitched four innings.

“He threw me a curveball outside and I just got under it,” said Johnson, a junior catcher who is expected to be selected in the first round of Monday’s pro draft. “I was under the ball the whole game.”

It was the 12th time this season that Miami won in its final at-bat. The Hurricanes stranded 16 runners, including 10 in scoring position.

Rick Ellstrom singled to start the bottom of the 13th and stole second. He moved to third on a sacrifice by Gino DiMare. Zuber walked Dave Berg, then intentionally walked Jonathen Smith to load the bases. Johnson, however, foiled the plan.

Smith, the Hurricanes’ center fielder, ended a Cal threat in the 13th, when he threw out Dan Trump at the plate. Trump, a senior catcher from Rolling Hills, had singled with one out and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Aaron Fuller. Chris Clapinski singled to center, but Smith threw a one-hop strike to Johnson, who tagged Trump out.

Gus Gandarillas (8-1) pitched five scoreless innings to earn the victory.

Cal took a 3-0 lead in the fifth on three-run home run by All-American Troy Penix. It was Penix’s 22nd homer, a Cal record.