|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
On May 4th, April showers caught many fans off guard as the game was put on hold due to nearby lightning just 42 minutes in. Originally scheduled to start at 1:00 PM, the time was moved to noon in hopes of completing enough innings (4.5) to make the game official. The score was still tied as the third inning began, with Miami at bat. Jake opened with a single, setting the stage for Max. On his first pitch, Max sent a stunning home run to right-center, traveling 378 feet, which gave Miami a 2-0 lead. Unfortunately for Daniel, he never had a chance to step up to the plate, as the umpire ordered all players off the field to enforce a rain delay because of the lightning threat.
The scheduled game encountered difficulties due to a 4:30 PM curfew, with hopes of completing the minimum innings for it to be considered official. Sadly, these expectations were thwarted. The grounds crew removed the tarp at approximately 3 PM, hoping to commence play around 3:45 PM. Although the lightning alert was still in effect, the rain had temporarily subsided. Unfortunately, this short break was quickly followed by a resurgence of heavy rain, which soaked the infield. By around 3:15 PM, the official announcement confirmed that the game had been canceled.
The implications of not completing the game, or at least not reaching 4 1/2 innings, are significant. With the game’s cancellation, our record remains at 14-9, putting us in a tie with Clemson for 14 wins. Additionally, if Florida State wins their second game of today’s doubleheader against Clemson, they too will have 14 wins. This creates a competitive logjam at the top with just two weeks left in the season. We have a genuine chance to be the #1 seed going into Durham and could even host a regional, provided we maintain our recent performance. It’s remarkable to think that just a month ago, we weren’t even considering these possibilities!
This team is on fire, showcasing strong performances from both our starting pitchers and our dynamic hitters. We have two series remaining. Next week, we’ll face Virginia, a team that has been facing challenges, and then we’ll wrap up the season at home against Notre Dame, who, much like us, has improved significantly, climbing out of the bottom ranks to 11th place. Now is not the moment to ease up; we are so close to completing an incredible turnaround!
The upcoming mid-week game against FIU at home calls for a focused and determined mindset. Historically, this matchup has presented challenges for us, with the Panthers often coming out on top. At the moment, we are in need of a mid-week starter who can boost our confidence in the game plan. While Reese Lumpkin has been a dependable choice, his recent performance hasn’t met expectations. Hopefully, JD has some alternative strategies ready for Wednesday’s game, which is scheduled to start at 6:00PM
