It was a painful end to a glorious regular season for the nation's No. 1 college baseball team. Despite a seven-run University of Miami comeback and runners on first and third when power hitter Dennis Raben came to the plate in the ninth, the tying run never came.
Raben struck out on a high fastball by designated hitter-turned-closer Tim Federowicz to give No. 2 Carolina the 12-11 victory Saturday at Mark Light Field.
UNC is expected to take over the top spot when the final regular-season rankings are released Monday.
''I thought [Raben] was going to hit a home run to be honest with you,'' said Yonder Alonso, who was 4 for 5 on the day and had just smacked an RBI-single for UM's 11th run. ``It shows a lot about what we are. We battle, battle, battle and we never give up. I'm sure we're not going to give up now.''
Asked if he thought UM should stay No. 1, Alonso said, ``No. They deserve it. Those guys are good. . . . But I'm sure we'll be No. 1 after the season, because we're going to win it all.''
The post season begins Wednesday at the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Jacksonville, where the Hurricanes (43-8, 23-5 ACC) are seeded No. 1 and will face No. 8 Clemson at a time to be announced Sunday. UM swept Clemson last month at home.
No. 2 seed North Carolina (45-10, 22-7) will face Wake Forest in its opener.
A RARE LOSS
After the ACC tournament ends next Sunday, the 64-team NCAA field will be announced the next day. Miami is expected to host a regional and be one of the top eight national seeds.
But Saturday was about reflecting on an exceptional season while lamenting a rare loss in which UM allowed two unearned runs and again sparked a late comeback that proved futile. The Hurricanes lost consecutive games and a weekend series for the first time this season.
''North Carolina has an outstanding club,'' UM coach Jim Morris said. ``They can swing the bat, they can pitch and they have some great prospects. They came into our house and beat us two out of three. It's a credit to them.''
Added Morris of UM's late effort: ``We did that [Friday], too. We battled back. But when you score 11 runs, you've got to win.''
Morris said he hadn't overlooked the great regular season.
''It's been a very good season, a very enjoyable season for the players and coaches, no question,'' he said. ``They played hard all season. That said, we've got to get it done in the tournament. I don't like ending with two losses.''
On Saturday, with UM up 4-1 after two innings, the Tar Heels began to methodically chip away at the Hurricanes -- a little bit here, a little bit there -- until they unleashed four-run fourth and fifth innings and went ahead 12-4. UM starter Enrique Garcia, who got the loss, allowed six runs (four earned) on eight hits, with no walks.
Reliever David Gutierrez gave up five runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings, with P.J. Fisher, Kyle Bellamy and Carlos Guitierrez also working from the bullpen.
UNC reliever Colin Bates pitched 3 2/3 innings for the victory.
Miami made its late charge with three runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings. In the ninth, with DH Federowicz switched to closer, Yasmani Grandal led off with a walk. Blake Tekotte reached on a fielder's choice, Jemile Weeks was hit by a pitch and Alonso followed with his single to right-center, scoring Tekotte.
Weeks went to third on Mark Sobolewski's fielder's choice. And with the crowd of 2,721 on its feet, Raben, who had doubled for 2 RBI earlier, struck out.
''It was a great year, but it's all over now,'' Alonso said of the regular season. ``We really can't worry about what we did this whole year. It's a new season -- the postseason -- and I just can't wait to get started.''
ANNOUNCER HONORED
UM baseball public address announcer Jay Rokeach was honored by the university and the City of Miami during the game for his 40 years of service. Rokeach, 57, started announcing games as a UM freshman in the spring of 1969.
Saturday was designated ''Jay Rokeach Day'' by the city and Morris and former UM coach Ron Fraser were among those who presented Rokeach with an award.
''Coach Fraser, I can't believe it has been 40 years,'' Rokeach said. ``You gave me the opportunity of a lifetime and it has turned into a lifetime of opportunity.
''Thank you for 40 fantastic, wonderful years with the best program in college baseball,'' he told the fans.
