Miami Wins Long, Wild One, 21-13

The hits just kept on coming . . . and coming . . . and coming Saturday night when Miami played Tennessee in the College World Series.

The teams combined for a record 41 hits before second-seeded Miami finally staggered to a 21-13 victory in front of what started as a crowd of 23,994 at Rosenblatt Stadium.

Only a small fraction remained by the time Miami completed a victory that took a record 4 hours, 21 minutes to complete. The teams broke the mark of 4:18 set Friday night by Stanford and Tulane.

Miami (50-12) will play USC, an 11-5 winner Saturday over Georgia, in a winners’ bracket game on Monday.

The Hurricanes had a 9-0 lead after three innings but had to fight off the Volunteers every inning thereafter.

Tennessee (46-19) pulled to within 12-10 with a six-run sixth, but Miami came right back with six runs and held on for the win.

George Huget, who has 13 saves, pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for Miami. He was the last of seven Hurricane pitchers.

“Who would think that when you score 21 runs, you would have to bring your closer in?” Miami Coach Jim Morris said.

The 41 hits broke the record of 39 set by USC and Arizona State in the Trojans’ 21-14 victory in the 1998 national championship game.

Miami designated hitter Danny Matienzo was four for five with two home runs and six runs batted in. First baseman Kevin Brown and center fielder Charlton Jimerson also homered for the Hurricanes.

Designated Brandon Hopkins, left fielder Jeff Christensen and third baseman Chris Bennett homered for Tennessee.