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Miami ends a four-game Conference losing streak with an impressive victory against the fifth-ranked Seminoles. Tonight showcased a difference in energy and level of play as the Canes, recovering from a terrible start on Thursday night, delivered a solid pitching performance from Griffin Hugus after a shaky beginning, aggressive base running by Jake Ogden and Derek Williams, and outstanding hitting from Derek Williams and Bobby Marsh, each contributing a home run and an extra-base hit, combining for six of the nine RBIs with support from Daniel Cuvet as they steamrolled to a 9-6 victory over a stunned Seminole team.
The Noles picked up where they left off last night, loading the bases with back-to-back singles and a walk. Hugus seemed to be heading for an early exit, as a second walk gave the Noles a 1-0 lead and pushed his pitch count to 35, raising concerns for the Canes.
Facing off against Jamie Arnold, who some consider the best pitcher in the Conference and country, the Miami hitters met the challenge. With a barrage of 7 runs on 7 hits, they drove him off the bump after four innings. Going into the contest, his ERA was less than one, which didn’t faze the Canes, as they went on the attack, scoring in the first three innings.
Jake Ogden kicked off the game with a single in the first inning. Fabio, batting second, executed a perfectly placed bunt, allowing Jake to move to second base, where he quickly stole third. Daniel’s sacrifice fly leveled the score at one run each. The Noles responded in the second with a home run, but the Canes countered with one of their own. Derek Williams started the bottom of the inning with his fourth round-tripper, hitting the top of the scoreboard. After the home run, the Canes loaded the bases and brought in the go-ahead run with a ground out. In the third, the Canes extended their lead with an aggressive display of base running: Derek Williams stole both second and third base, while Bobby Marsh crushed a double, elevating the score to 4-2 in favor of the Canes.
In the fifth inning, three additional runs were secured from three hits. Williams hit an RBI double that drove in a runner who had advanced due to Arnold’s previous throwing error at first base. The inning concluded with a single from Bobby Marsh, contributing the final two runs.
Six unanswered runs. The Nole bats stayed quiet for five innings as Griffin rebounded smartly from that 35-pitch first inning to complete five innings, finishing with a total of 108 pitches. AJ Ciscar took over and delivered two solid innings until the eighth. It was only a matter of time before the Noles would make a push, and in the eighth, they began what they hoped would be a resurgence of offense. AJ opened the eighth by hitting the lead-off batter, and the Canes caught a break with a runner’s interference call on the runner not sliding into second, resulting in a double play for the Canes. Two consecutive hits and another hit batter loaded the bases, ending AJ’s day as JD brought in the next pitcher, “Closer” Will Smith, to shut the Noles down. Instead, a 2 RBI single with two strikes on the hitter narrowed the Noles’ deficit from six runs to four.
In an effort to prevent what was turning into a meltdown, Jake Ogden made a bold move by disrupting a double play (6-4, E4) and then stealing third base. A sacrifice fly by Fabio put the lead back to five, providing the insurance run the Canes needed.
In the 9th inning, with Smith still on the mound, the Noles put up a fierce fight, launching three consecutive singles to load the bases. Smith struggled, and the fans, sensing the pressure, released a breath of relief when he notched a strikeout—only to see the Noles produce their 4th single of the inning, bringing the tying run to the plate. The decision came to change pitchers: Smith was out, and Alex Giroux took over, with the bases still loaded. Hunter Carns, who had already hit 2 HRs in this series, had the chance to tie the game. On the first pitch, he hit a grounder in front of home plate; Smith tagged home plate and, to complete the double play hit the runner heading to first (E2). A run scored as a result, leaving runners at 2nd and 3rd with the tying run now at the plate. Harrelson, who was hitless for the night, was up next, with their best hitter waiting on deck. Giroux pushed the count to 2-2 before delivering the final strike, sealing the victory and snapping the 4-game Conference skid.
It was a decisive display of hitting, pitching, and fielding for the Canes. The primary concern remains the absence of a reliable Closer. Will Smith, once considered the solution, was overwhelmed by the Noles, giving up five hits, 4 of which occurred in the ninth inning. Bobby Marsh almost hit for the cycle, delivering 4 RBIs in a standout performance. This was a night to celebrate. Everything pointed towards a potential sweep following Thursday’s performance and the start of today’s game. If you give the Noles an inch, they will take a mile, but the Canes refused to buy into that narrative, showcasing a memorable game filled with renewed energy. Now, they must maintain this revitalized drive to clinch the series tomorrow, which promises to be a highly contested contest based on today’s action. Brian Walter is responsible for sustaining the momentum we witnessed at the Light tonight. First pitch is set for 7PM.
