OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Home runs by Bobby Hill and Kris Clute lifted Miami to a 8-4 victory over Rice in the College World Series opener for both teams Friday night.

The top-seeded Hurricanes (47-13) rallied for four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie it and took the lead for good in the sixth when Clute homered to right.

The Hurricanes needed a team effort to defeat Rice, 8-4. Jefferson Steel

Miami will meet Alabama on Sunday while the Owls (58-14) will play Oklahoma State in an elimination game.

It was a two-run shot by Hill that turned the momentum in favor of the Hurricanes, who are making their sixth appearance in Omaha in six seasons under coach Jim Morris.

Hill's shot flew towards the top of the wall when a fan reached over the wall and snagged it. Umpires ruled the ball a home run and the Hurricanes had trimmed the margin to 4-2.

That seemed to unravel Rice starter Mario Ramos, who had dominated to that point.

Ramos allowed a single by Brian Seever and walked Manny Crespo on five pitches. Ramos then picked off Seever, Crespo taking second on the play.

Lale Esquivel hit a sharp liner to third and Rice's Matt Fox made a diving stab only to overthrow first baseman Jacob Baker. Crespo scored and Esquivel went to second.

Kevin Brown walked on four pitches and Mike Rodriguez singled in Esquivel to tie it 4-4. Ramos was replaced by Jeff Nichols (15-4), who struck out Greg Lovelady to end the inning.

Morris decided to change pitchers just before the game, going with junior right-hander David Gil (12-0) instead of staff ace Alex Santos. It was a gamble that had worked before.

On April 17, Gil was given the ball just before a game against Florida State. He responded with a 4-3 victory, allowing eight hits in eight innings and striking out four.

This time, it didn't look like a good idea after the Owls built a 4-0 lead and Ramos had a one-hit shutout through 4 1-3 innings. Hill delivered his strange home run and the Hurricanes unlocked the secret to hitting Ramos.

Miami added an insurance run in the eighth on singles by Seever and Crespo, Esquivel's sacrifice and Brown's sacrifice fly to center.