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The momentum carried forward from Sunday. For the second consecutive game, the Miami bats were in a feeding frenzy, dominating the Wildcats- or should I call them the Pussy Cats?- in a shortened game with a resounding score of 11-1. On Sunday, Miami lit up the scoreboard with 14 runs on 15 hits, and tonight the beat continued with 11 runs on 13 hits, marking the second straight game the Mercy Rule was invoked. All but Dorian in the starting nine had a hit, with five players recording multiple hits. Three doubles and two home runs were unleashed, showcasing one of the best pitching performances we have seen all season. From the opening strike by Reese Lumpkin, it was pure Canes across all aspects of the game. With the longest home run hit this season at 436 feet, the Pussy Cats managed only one hit, leaving Canes fans with plenty to cheer about.
Miami took an early lead by scoring in the first inning, with Fabio walking and stealing second base for his eighth of the year. The Fabio carousel continued as Daniel advanced him to third on a single, and he scored when Williams grounded out 5-3, giving the Canes a 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats struck back in the second inning, with Jorge Rodriguez leading off, delivering Bethune-Cookman’s sole hit and run, which tied the score at one. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, that was the extent of their offensive output, as no player reached first base afterward. Reese took control from that point, demonstrating his mastery by striking out five batters over six innings while finishing with only 58 pitches.
The Canes showed their dominance as the party truly began in the third inning. Nine unanswered runs culminated in the sixth with an impressive four-run burst, elevating the score to 10-1. Carson Fischer entered the game in the seventh, needing just 12 pitches—two of which led to strikeouts—setting the stage for the knockout blow in the bottom half of the inning. Max Galvin kicked things off by singling, then advancing to third on a wild pitch. With the infield and outfield drawn in, Jake seized the moment, smashing a shot over the left fielder’s head on a 1-0 count, bringing in the 11th and decisive run, thus ending the game with the Mercy Rule imposed.
With the score tied at one, Fabio energized the Cane’s fans with a preview of the awesome power that was yet to come. Max Galvin’s one-out double was the first of five extra-base hits for the night. Jake walked, setting the stage for Fabio and his second home run of the season. Derek Williams followed in the next inning with the longest home run of the season, a 436-foot blast to left. Another run came in the fifth, capped off by four in the sixth, with the team batting around and loading the bases three times, scoring twice with the bases loaded.
Offensively, it was a batting paradise, continuing the momentum from Sunday. On Sunday, they batted .465, and tonight demonstrated a .448 average. With runners in scoring position, they excelled, going 8 for 12 and striking out only three times. Thirteen hits were recorded, with five players achieving multiple hits: Jake Ogden, Daniel Cuvet, Derek Williams, Bobby Marsh, and Max Galvin. They hit three doubles, courtesy of Daniel Cuvet, Tanner Smith, and Max Galvin. Fabio Peralta and Derek Williams both launched home runs tonight. The burning question is whether the team has truly turned a corner and can sustain this momentum. Duke presents a stiff challenge, unlike Pitt or Bethune-Cookman, so this matchup will reveal if this is the Canes fans hoped for this season or merely a fleeting moment of brilliance. I believe it is the former; they have developed an appetite for hitting and will maintain the impressive pace they’ve set through these last two games.
This weekend’s success hinges entirely on our pitching performance. Without Hugus, Ciscar, and DeRias performing at the same high level they did against Pitt, our hitting prowess will be irrelevant. The three-pitcher rotation displayed exceptional skill against Pitt, and if they can duplicate that against Duke, we should anticipate a decisive sweep, complete with an impressive show of batting strength. The first pitch for Friday’s game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.
