Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 30, 1990 TAG: 9005300105
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CORAL GABLES, FLA. LENGTH: Medium
That's because they will make another trip Wednesday - by plane - to Omaha, Neb., for The Citadel's first appearance in the College World Series.
Brad Stowell and Hank Kraft combined on a four-hitter as The Citadel beat the Miami Hurricanes 4-1 Tuesday to win the NCAA Atlantic Regional.
Chris Coker and Tony Skole hit solo home runs for the fifth-seeded Bulldogs (45-12), who marched through the double-elimination tournament with a 4-0 record and handed top-seeded Miami both of its defeats.
"It's going to be a sweet ride home," said Bulldogs outfielder Anthony Jenkins, selected the tournament's outstanding player. "We could fly, ride, or walk - I don't care. It's a dream come true for all of us."
The Citadel will be the first all-military college - including the three service academies and VMI - to play in the College World Series. The eight-team national championship tournament starts Friday.
Stowell, a junior right-hander who started the game with a 4-3 record and a 5.69 ERA, allowed four hits and six walks. He departed after giving up a double to start the ninth - only the third time the Hurricanes' leadoff hitter had reached base.
"Best day of my career," Stowell said. "I just tried to keep the leadoff man off base every inning. That's when Miami starts to play good - when they hit-and-run and steal."
Kraft retired all three men he faced for his seventh save. The victory made a second game Tuesday between the two schools unnecessary.
"It was a team win. We made the routine plays under pressure," said Chal Port, The Citadel's coach for 26 years.
"We may not win another game, but we've had a hell of a lot of fun here."
Miami (52-13) had won seven consecutive regionals at home and was seeking its 11th trip to Omaha in the past 13 years. But the Hurricanes could muster only a single run, which scored in the sixth on Frank Mora's double.
"I thought at some point we'd break loose and start playing like we did most of the year, and we couldn't do it," Miami coach Ron Fraser said. "The Citadel played very relaxed. They played like we usually play."
Coker broke a 1-1 tie when he led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a home run to left field. One out later, Skole also homered to left against Miami ace Oscar Munoz (15-2).
The homers were the sixth this season for Coker and the third for Skole.
Coker also drove home a run with a single in the seventh. Mike Branham's double scored Skole with The Citadel's first run in the second.
Jenkins went 2-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. After going 0-for-5 in his team's tournament opener, he was 9-for-10 with two home runs in the final three games.
"The first day I played here, against North Carolina State, I was very impatient at the plate," Jenkins said. "Coach Port told me to be patient and just get a good pitch to hit. I just relaxed."
Jenkins was one of five Bulldogs on the all-tournament team. The others were second baseman Dan McDonnell, shortstop Phillip Tobin, outfielder Billy Baker and pitcher Richard Shirer.
Celebration plans were uncertain as the Bulldogs boarded their bus.
"I don't know what we'll do," Port said. "We've never done this before. I suppose we'll sing on the way back."
\ The Citadel moved into the final eight with Georgia, Georgia Southern, Louisiana State, Mississippi State, Stanford, Oklahoma State and Fullerton State.
That's three schools - Georgia, LSU and Mississippi State - from the football-oriented Southeastern Conference and just one - top-ranked Stanford - from the baseball belt of the Pacific 10.
by CNB