Hurricanes Become National Champions

For all his trips to the College World Series, Miami Coach Jim Morris never had a national title.

Kevin Brown and Michael Neu took care of that.

Brown homered in the second inning and hit a three-run double in Miami’s five-run fifth, leading the Hurricanes to a 6-5 victory over Florida State on Saturday in the championship game of the College World Series.

It was the third national championship for Miami (50-13) but the first for Morris, the only coach in NCAA history to bring his team to Omaha each of his first six seasons.

“It was a great win for all of us,” Brown said. “Coach has been here the last six years. It’s great to finally get it out of the way.”

Since he arrived in Coral Gables, Morris has lived in the shadow of former coach Ron Fraser, who won titles in 1982 and 1985.

Morris also has been haunted for three years by the memory of a ninth-inning homer by Louisiana State’s Warren Morris. The Hurricanes were one out away from the 1996 title when Morris lifted the Tigers to a 9-8 victory.

On Saturday, with Florida State (57-14) leading, 2-1, Marcus Nettles led off the fifth with a bloop single to left, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Kris Clute’s single to right.

Bobby Hill singled up the middle and Clute went to third. Brian Seever grounded to shortstop Brett Groves for the second out, but rather than throw home to try and get Clute, Groves opted for the force.

After Blair Varnes walked the next two batters, loading the bases, Brown doubled up the gap in right.

Neu, meanwhile, worked the last two innings, retiring the side in the ninth for his 16th save.

Florida State made it 6-5 in the eighth. Ryan Barthelemy led off with a triple and scored on John-Ford Griffin’s sacrifice fly.

Marshall McDougall then flied to left, with Mike Rodriguez making the catch on the warning track.

Miami’s victory denied Seminole Coach Mike Martin his first title in 11 trips to Omaha in 20 seasons.