|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Canes secured their first mid-week victory decisively, extending their winning streak to five games by defeating their West Coast rival, Florida Gulf, with a score of 14-6. Miami dominated the game from the start, pulling ahead significantly to make it 10-1 by the end of the 4th inning. Although the Eagles attempted a late comeback to reclaim the lead, the Canes matched them run for run. Brixton Lofgren sealed the game confidently in the 9th inning by striking out the Eagles in order, ensuring a convincing win for Miami.
Miami seized control of the game swiftly, notching three runs in the first inning and adding two more in the second. The Sleeping Giant was awake and alert from the outset, racking up four hits, notably a pivotal single by Bobby Marsh to right that scored two runs, followed closely by Tanner Smith’s 4th double of the season, allowing Miami to establish a commanding 3-0 lead. With an aggressive approach on the bases, Miami converted a pair of stolen bases into two additional runs in the second inning, stretching the Canes’ lead to 5-1.
The Eagles faced a decisive blow in the 4th inning, conceding five runs after the first two batters were both struck out. Dorian ignited the offense with a powerful fly ball to left, lost against the dark sky, and ultimately bounced off the scoreboard. Although it was ruled an error despite not being touched, Dorian had to retreat back to second after reaching third base. Following this, four consecutive hits ensued, which included an RBI double from Max Galvin and concluded with Bobby Marsh’s impressive shot to right field, measured at 372 feet, adding two more runs and establishing a commanding 10-1 lead.
The Eagles responded in the second inning after Miami scored three runs in the first, with a clutch two-out base hit. The Eagles struggled to find their rhythm as Lumpkin showcased his skill, striking out seven batters heading into the 6th inning. With two outs and Reese recording his 8th strikeout, Javier Gorostola broke the Eagles’ scoring drought by launching a defining home run to left center. Miami countered quickly, responding in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single from Max Galvin, who brought home Dorian after he opened the inning with a single.
The Eagles capitalized on a breakthrough in the 7th inning after Reese, who had thrown six innings with a career-high nine strikeouts and only allowed two runs, exited the game. Ryan Ashford took over as relief pitcher in the 7th and managed to secure the first two outs; however, he encountered difficulties with three consecutive hits, resulting in the Eagles scoring two additional runs. In response, the Canes fought back in the bottom of the inning, matching the Eagles with two runs of their own. It could have been more, as they had the bases loaded with no outs, yet they could only manage two runs, both attributed to an error and a fielder’s choice.
Alex Stanyek, making his long-awaited first appearance after missing all of last year and the preseason, stepped in for Ryan to secure the final out in the 7th and returned in the 8th, intent on swiftly handling the Eagles. The Eagles, unwilling to roll over with a 13-4 deficit, started the inning with a hit batter. Alex quickly reestablished his focus with a strikeout, but the defense faltered afterward. A ground ball to first should have resulted in a double play, but a high throw to second put runners on the corners. Back-to-back singles allowed the Eagles to score two runs, tarnishing his debut on the mound. AJ Ciscar was brought in to stabilize the situation and successfully held the Eagles to just those two runs. In response, Miami fired back as Jake Ogden led off the bottom of the inning with his second home run of the year.
Brixton Lofgren took the mound in the 9th inning, decisively sending the Eagles home disappointed by striking out all three batters he faced after just 15 pitches. The Canes delivered a dominant performance that they desperately needed after last week’s mid-week loss to FAU. Mid-week games were our downfall last year, but tonight we absolutely turned things around and got back on the right track.
The Sleeping Giant is no more, showcasing a decisive 14-run, 14-hit performance and aggressive base running with five stolen bases executed early on. Jake Ogden and Bobby Marsh each hammered two home runs, while Max Galvin and Tanner Smith contributed crucial doubles, leading to a commanding victory. Five batters delivered multi-hit games, with Max Galvin and Jake Ogden leading with three hits each. Daniel Cuvet, Bobby Marsh, and Tanner Smith added two hits apiece. Only Derek Williams and Fabio Peralta were held without a hit in the starting lineup.
Reese Lumpkin delivered a strong performance as the starting pitcher, effectively limiting the Eagles to just two runs and five hits while achieving a career-high of nine strikeouts. Unfortunately, the bullpen struggled tonight, allowing the Eagles to stay competitive by conceding four runs during the 7th and 8th innings, which were far from their best. On a brighter note, Brixton showcased exceptional skill by striking out the side in the 9th inning.
Tonight’s game was a satisfying revenge for last year’s devastating loss in twelve innings. The real test awaits us in two days when we challenge the Gators on their home turf. We must use this victory as motivation to stay poised at the plate and dominate on the mound. Perfection is essential if we want to take down the Gators. Our starters have demonstrated that they possess the right stuff, and our bats are coming into their own. We need nothing less than a Perfect Storm to claim the series and finally break Florida’s stranglehold over us. The first pitch in Gainesville is this Friday at 6:30PM.
