Due to weather concerns on Sunday, Miami played a doubleheader today, resulting in a split: Miami took the first game, while the Wolfpack responded with a victory in the second. This will set up a decisive rubber match tomorrow at 7 PM. The day was a marathon of baseball, starting at 3 PM and ending at 11:40 PM. Over both games, Miami pitchers threw a total of 398 pitches, and eleven pitchers, tiring the bullpen, struggled to contain the opposition. Miami’s long
ball was a key factor in the first game, but their pitching and hitting issues in the second game ultimately cost them. The first game featured sixteen hits compared to only five in the second, along with 13 strikeouts. In the opening game, six players had multiple hits, including Jake Ogden and Derek Williams with three each. No player in the second game contributed more than one hit. In the first game, 14 of the 16 hits were singles, with the two home runs accounting for seven runs—the deciding factor. The second game saw no home runs but two doubles. They were only 2-13 with RISP and batted .156. The stark difference in offensive production and questionable pitching made for a challenging day for Miami.
In the first game, Miami was on cruise control, leading 6-0 through three. Miami scored twice in the first on a trio of singles from Ogden, Galvin, and West (RBI), concluding with an SF by Alvarez. Miami added three more in the second with a trio of singles from Peralta, Ogden, and Williams (RBI), and Sosa capped the inning with a three-run homer.
In the 4th inning, Lazaro Collera’s situation deteriorated sharply. Miami was taken aback as the game changed course significantly. After thirteen batters and sixty pitches, Miami’s commanding 6-0 lead became an 8-6 deficit. Lazaro was charged with all eight runs, giving up four hits, two walks, and one hit batter. Sebastian Santos-Olson struggled in relief, hitting the first batter with the bases loaded, then allowing an RBI single that brought in two more runs, all credited to Lazaro.
With the momentum shifting in favor of the Wolfpack, they extend their lead in the fifth inning as Sebastian hits his second batter, along with a single and a double, transforming Miami’s once 6-0 advantage into a 9-6 deficit.
Miami shifted gears in the 7th inning. After four innings of just two hits, the Miami bats finally came alive, loading the bases with three hits, walking in a run, and then Max Galvin hit his first home run of the season, turning a 9-6 deficit into a commanding 11-9 lead. JD didn’t take any chances and brought in Lyndon Glidewell for the final two frames. Lyndon closed out the game, striking out four batters, while Miami added an insurance run in the 9th, finishing the roller coaster of a game with a 12-9 victory.
Game two was a complete reversal of the first game. The supercharged Miami hitting machine fizzled, managing just five hits and remaining scoreless through six innings. Whether Rob Evans returned too early from his injury is hard to determine, but he didn’t look like the pitcher who had dominated the mound all season. He couldn’t make it through the 4th after 80 pitches and 4 runs, including a three-run homer in the second after giving up two walks. Following Rob’s early departure, it became a revolving door from the BP, coming to a head in the 5th when the floodgates exploded for seven runs, extending the Pack’s lead to 11-0. It was ugly, ugly, ugly as ten batters swarmed over Miami pitching with just 3 hits. Throw in three walks, a pair of errors, and a hit batter, and seven runs resulted.
Cooper Consiglio of the Wolfpack effectively shut down Miami’s hitters over six innings. With the score at 11-0 entering the seventh, Miami faced the 10-run mercy rule if they continued to struggle offensively. After a pitching change, the Wolfpack pitchers lost control and couldn’t find the strike zone. Miami responded with six runs on two hits and five walks—four consecutive—preventing an early exit and narrowing the deficit to five with two innings remaining.
JD brings in Tate DeRias as the 6th reliever of the game. Tate, who has had a terrible season, continued his struggles, giving back two of the six runs Miami had just scored. Two walks, a double, and two wild pitches extended the lead to 13-6. What little hope Miami had of climbing back into the game ended with Tate.
A weakened WP bullpen gave the Canes new hope in the 8th inning when two hit batters and a single loaded the bases with no outs. The opportunity was lost when Fabio hit a line drive to shortstop. DeGoti, unable to return to the base in time, was doubled up after the shortstop stepped on second base.
The only bright spot from game two was the return of Nick Robert, who pitched the 6th inning. Needing only 11 pitches for three strikeouts while throwing at 96-97 gives Miami another strong arm in the BP for the final stretch of the season.
AJ Cisca will pitch for the Canes tomorrow, aiming for their sixth ACC series victory and seventh consecutive series win, with the deciding game beginning at 7PM. The match will be broadcast on ESPN2.
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