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Miami decisively completed the quadfecta by sweeping the Princeton Tigers in four straight games, spearheaded by an exceptional performance from Brian Walters. He dominated on the mound, throwing six no-hit innings, permitting just two batters to reach base, and striking out nine Tigers in a commanding display of skill. The Tigers’ only hit came with two outs in the seventh inning from reliever Carson Fischer. Although Miami’s bats didn’t replicate the explosive power displayed in previous games, Bobby Marsh’s Grand Slam home run in the first inning proved crucial for the game’s outcome. Jake Ogden made his mark not just as a vital hitter—going 3-for-3 with two RBIs—but also with one of the most remarkable defensive plays of the series. In the third inning, Joseph Zorc, the designated hitter, led off with a fierce line drive to the left of Jake, who was manning shortstop. In an impressive showcase of athleticism, Jake executed a stunning diving catch, sacrificing his body to complete the 6-3 putout. Miami continued to assert its dominance by adding three more unanswered runs: one in the third and two in the seventh. Despite encountering a couple of double plays and a brief hitting slump, Miami’s pitching, led by starter Brian Walters and supported by relievers Carson Fischer, Will Smith, and Michael Fernandez, effectively contained the Tigers, allowing only one hit and two walks. This marks their second sweep in as many weeks, setting them up perfectly for their first true test against the Gators next weekend.
Brian assertively put the Tigers on notice in the first inning, striking out the side with eight consecutive strikes, showcasing a diverse array of pitches while his fastball registered in the mid-90s. The shocked Tigers faced a rude awakening when the offensive onslaught from the previous night resumed, loading the bases with the first three batters Liam Kinneen encountered. Jake Ogden, the day’s standout offensive player, delivered his first of three hits, putting Miami on the board at 1-0. With a prime opportunity to capitalize on the bases loaded, Kinneen managed to rein in the Canes, getting the next two batters, Dorian and Tanner, to strike out and pop out to first. It seemed the Tigers might escape with minimal damage after having the base loaded and no outs until Bobby Marsh crushed any hope of limiting the damage. With the count at 0-1, Bobby launched a powerful blast to left that the wind carried, delivering a decisive blow that guaranteed the Canes completed the sweep eight innings later. Bobby’s grand slam was the team’s second in the series.
Miami extended their lead with an unearned run in the third inning, taking advantage of a throwing error by the third baseman. Jake, who had walked to lead off the inning and then stolen second, scored following this mistake. The offense fell silent for the next three innings, during which they grounded into double plays twice. However, they finally ignited in the seventh, scoring two more runs thanks to another error at third base (E5). Daniel took advantage of the fielding error to reach base, and the Tigers suffered the consequences, allowing two unearned runs on consecutive singles by Jake Ogden and Dorian Gonzalez.
Starting pitching throughout the weekend was crucial for making the quadfecta a reality. Starters Robert, Hugus, Giroux, and Walters were exceptional, allowing only 5 hits and 4 runs and achieving an impressive 31 strikeouts over 23 innings. Notably, Robert was the only starter who didn’t reach six innings. The bullpen provided outstanding support, limiting the Tigers to 5 hits and 2 runs, while adding another 13 strikeouts to contribute to the sweep. The real challenge now is whether the starters and the bullpen can sustain this high level of performance in the upcoming weekend.
Today, the Sleeping Giant has no time for complacency after yesterday’s 25-run, 24-hit awakening. Bobby Marsh’s grand slam was a powerful highlight, but they can’t afford to let up—tougher challenges are still ahead. The upcoming mid-week game against Florida Gulf will be pivotal, especially following last year’s struggles with mid-week matchups and our recent defeat to FAU. It’s imperative that we demonstrate we are not the same team that struggled with inconsistent pitching and hitting last season. The easy games are behind us; it’s time to get serious. With a solid defense and a bullpen primed for action, it’s the offense that must rise to the occasion and show consistency. Wednesday will truly test our ability to build on the momentum from our impressive four-game sweep of the Princeton Tigers this past weekend. The first pitch on Wednesday is scheduled for 6:00PM.
