Villegas makes a leaping catch at the wall for the final out as Miami secures a spot in ACC semis
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Freshman Antonio Jimenez went 2 for 3 with a three-run homer, Edgardo Villegas made a leaping catch at the wall for the final ou t and 11th-seeded Miami secured a spot in the semifinals with an 8-7 victory over No. 2 seed Clemson on Thursday in the ACC Tournament.
Miami (27-29) also beat No. 7 seed Louisville 8-5 on Tuesday to begin Pool B. Clemson (40-14) goes against the Cardinals on Friday.
Jimenez put the Hurricanes ahead for good at 4-2 with his home run in the second inning. Fellow freshman Daniel Cuvet went the other way for a two-run double later in the inning for a four-run lead.
Clemson scored two in the eighth to get within 7-6 and had runners at second and third before Myles Caba struck out Alden Mathes to end the threat.
Pinch-hitter Jake Kulikowski, another Miami freshman, led off the bottom of the eighth with his second home run of the season for an 8-6 lead. But Clemson got one back when Jacob Hinderleider sent a deep shot over the center-field wall for his 13th of the season.
Cuvet, Villegas and Dorian Gonzalez Jr. each had two of Miami's 12 hits.
Miami stater Gage Ziehl (5-3) pitched six innings, striking out four and retiring eight of the last 10 batters he faced. Caba recorded his fifth save of the year.
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