Tigers first-rounder closes the deal

OMAHA, Neb. -- North Carolina's Andrew Miller hadn't come out the bullpen since his freshman season in 2004. Yet there he was Wednesday evening, trotting in from right field with two outs in the ninth inning and a trip to the College World Series Championship round on the line.

Miller, whom the Tigers selected with the sixth overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft, won't be changing his resume to read closer any time soon but he did need only three pitches to induce a game-ending groundout and preserve the Tar Heels' 6-5 victory over Cal State-Fullerton at Rosenblatt Stadium.

It was Miller's fourth career relief appearance and his first save. It should be his last considering he is scheduled to pitch the Championship Series opener Saturday night.

Miller was in the 'pen doing some light work in the event the Titans rallied and won the game, which would have forced a game Thursday evening, a game he would have started.

"I would have faced only one batter, maybe two because there was still a chance that I would have started tomorrow [Thursday]," said Miller, who pitched with a blood-stained jersey, the result of a pre-game bloody nose. "Coach [Mike] Fox and [pitching] coach [Scott] Forbes told me there might be a chance and if they called for me, could I throw a few pitches over the plate and get the out.

"They [the coaching staff] asked me if I wanted to go in and I said yes. I just wanted to win and get it over with. The adrenaline carries you. We needed one out to send North Carolina to the championship and it flew by in one or two seconds."

Saying good-bye: Miami head coach Jim Miller started thanking his players during his open statement to the media Tuesday night after they dropped a 7-1 elimination-game decision to Oregon State. He seemed resigned when he reached his center fielder and team captain John Jay, whom the Cardinals selected in the second round.

"He's probably not going to be around next year," Miller said. "That's safe to say. It would be great to have him back, though." Seated a few feet to Miller's left, Jay wearing No. 30 for probably the last time, just smiled. He led the 'Canes in multiple categories, including average (.363) and stolen bases (31). He probably will sign with the Redbirds and report to State College (Pa.) of the Class A Short-Season New York-Penn League.

"Jay has proven over and over again that he can hit, and that's what we really looked for," Jeff Luhnow, Cardinals' vice president for player procurement, said on Draft Day. "I expect him to go out and hit right away in the Minor Leagues. I don't expect to see too many slumps for him. He also can play center field, and that's exciting. He can run, he can catch, and he can throw enough to play out there." Jay is already seemingly focused on the future. Later in the conference, he addressed a question about the Hurricanes season and used "they" instead of "we" on a few occasions, bringing a laugh from Miller.

This and that: The Tar Heels are 8-0 in the postseason heading into the finals and are the only unbeaten team in the tournament. ... Jay Cox's four RBIs set a school record for a CWS game, eclipsing Mike Fox's three against St. John's on June 4, 1978. Cox, a 22nd-round pick by the Rockies, has driven 20 of his 64 runs this season during the tournament. ... Cal State-Fullerton snapped the Tar Heels' CWS scoreless-inning streak at 20 1/3 innings on Clark Hardman's RBI single in the second. ... The final Titans totals for the CWS for players who were drafted are as follows: Blake Davis [fourth round, Baltimore] went 3-for-20 with three runs scored; Justin Turner [seventh round, Cincinnati] 8-for-22 with two runs scored and an RBI; Brett Pill [seventh round, San Francisco] 7-for-21 with four runs scored and an RBI; Brandon Tripp [12th round, Baltimore] 4-for-14 with four RBIs and two runs; John Curtis [24th round, Los Angeles Angels] 6-for-14 with an RBI; and Danny Dorn [32nd round, Cincinnati] 8-for-17 with six runs, two RBIs and five walks. Ryan Paul [10th round, San Francisco], despite being affected by a stomach virus, appeared in all four games, earning a victory while going five innings and not allowing a run. He struck out five, walked one and allowed one hit. Lauren Gagnier [seventh round, Detroit] made one start and one relief appearance in which he took a loss. He pitched nine innings, gave up 17 hits and eight runs, all earned. He struck out four and walked two.