JACKSONVILLE, FLA. - The N.C. State baseball team missed too many opportunities down the stretch Saturday afternoon against top-seeded Miami.

And as a result, it missed a chance to advance to today's Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.

The Wolfpack fell behind early and its rally fell short as the Hurricanes held on for a 5-2 win in the third round of pool play at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

Clemson's 10-4 win over Georgia Tech in the early game Saturday meant that an N.C. State win over No. 2 Miami would put the Wolfpack in the championship game.

"Clemson gave us an opportunity, but Miami was too much for us," N.C. State coach Elliott Avent said. "They are one of the best ballclubs I've seen in 30 years of college baseball. There's not much they don't do [well]. They're outstanding."

Down 5-0 heading into the seventh, N.C. State had managed only two hits, but the Wolfpack finally threatened. Pat Ferguson walked and then after moving to second on pinch-hitter Nick Stanley's grounder to first, tried to score on Tommy Foschi's single to left. But Miami left fielder Adan Severino's throw reached the plate just in time, and catcher Jason Hagerty scooped it up and pivoted in front of the plate to tag out Ferguson.

"We haven't had good luck at the plate this week," joked Avent, referring to Foschi's ejection during Wednesday's game for initiating contact with Georgia Tech's catcher.

The Wolfpack rallied in the eighth. Jeremy Synan singled home Dallas Poulk, and then Marcus Jones walked with the bases loaded, scoring Poulk and pulling N.C. State within 5-2. The Pack had the bases loaded with just one out, but Ferguson's fly out to left wasn't deep enough to score Synan, and Stanley followed with a strikeout.

"We get back into the game and get an opportunity," Avent said. "You're down 5-0, you've got to chip away. Every time there's an opportunity that goes unmet, it keeps that hill a little steeper to climb."

In the ninth, Foschi delivered a leadoff double, and Poulk walked to give the Pack runners on first and second with one out. Miami closer Chris Gutierrez slammed the door with two consecutive strikeouts to end the game.

"Boy, he's all-conference in the league that probably has the best pitching in the country," Avent said. "So that probably says enough right there."

Starting pitcher Jake Buchanan (2-2) took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings, including a towering home run to Miami second baseman Jemile Weeks. Alex Sogard entered the game in the fourth and shut the Hurricanes down for 3 2/3 innings of relief. He didn't allow a hit and surrendered only one walk.

"I knew coming in I just had to shut them down for a couple [of] innings and try to get us back in the game," Sogard said.

Despite the two losses this past week, Avent is confident that N.C. State will be one of the 16 schools selected to host an NCAA Regional. The host sites will be announced today at 7 p.m., and the brackets will be unveiled Monday at 12:30 p.m.

Avent said that All-ACC reliever Jimmy Gillheeney's status for next weekend's regional is uncertain and that it will be a university decision.

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