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Miami SWEPT in Charlottesville, losing to Virginia 8-6 despite rallying back from a 7-0 deficit
VIRGINIA: GAME 3
SWEPT! Charlottesville, Disharoon Park, and the Virginia Cavalier serve as a poignant reminder of opportunities lost. This is not the moment in the season to lose hope, but like last year, we find ourselves facing a challenging streak that needs to be corrected in our final series against the Irish. What once seemed like a challenging path entering this series, with the potential for a double bye, is now precariously focusing on maintaining a single bye.
Tate DeRias, our ace in the hole to secure a win, turned into a joker as the Cavaliers jumped all over him in the first inning with a two-run home run to open the game, and they were just getting started. Five unanswered runs would follow, giving the Cavs a commanding lead of 7-0 without a response from the Miami hitters at the end of six. They managed only three hits through six innings, going 3-20 at the plate. They had already recorded six strikeouts and looked lost at the plate facing the Virginia pitchers, which did not seem overwhelming. As for Tate, he lasted 3.1 innings, giving up all seven runs on six hits without recording a single strikeout.
After six lackluster innings, the bats ignited in the 7th, driving through the order and scoring five runs. Miami transformed from a dismal 3-20 through six innings to a potent offensive display, finishing 4-7. This rally was spearheaded by Gaby Gutierrez’s RBI double, followed by an RBI single from Jake, and capped with Daniel’s impressive 15th homer, which soared 377 feet, narrowing the gap to two runs.
Jackson Cleveland took over for Tate in the 4th inning and did an admirable job against the Virginia lineup, despite giving up a double to the very first batter he faced—an earned run for Tate. He held the Cavaliers in check for the next two innings as the Hurricanes steadily clawed their way back into the game. After a surprising 5-run inning from Virginia in the 7th, the momentum started to shift towards the Canes. However, Henry Ford interrupted that surge with a leadoff home run. It appeared that the Canes had difficulty maintaining that momentum in the 8th, especially as Virginia substituted in a new pitcher. With three runs behind, the Canes faced a challenging situation ahead with their top order set to bat.
Jake opened the 9th inning with a walk, followed by Max hitting a single to right center after Jake successfully stole second base. This set the stage for Daniel, the team’s most effective hitter, to come to the plate. With runners positioned on the corners, Daniel delivered a single to right, scoring Jake and moving Max to third base. At this juncture, a question arose: why didn’t JD opt to pinch-run for Daniel with Fabio, waiting until the second out to do so instead? With runners on the corners and no outs while trailing by two, what unfolded next was disappointing and a reflection of the weekend’s struggles. Both Dorian and Jake Kulikowski, who pinch-hit for Evan, struck out. With only one out remaining, JD chose to replace Renzo with Nolan Johnson, who has had minimal playing time this season. This decision is likely to prompt further scrutiny. Facing an 0-1 count, Nolan made contact but flew out to center, concluding the Canes’ rally in the 9th and ultimately getting SWEPT in Charlottesville.
The overall performance of both the offense and the pitching fell short of expectations. Tate DeRias, who has been exceptional throughout the season, faced challenges similar to those of his predecessor, Griffin, struggling to emerge from the first inning without conceding a run. By the fourth inning, with the number of runs and hits allowed accumulating, he seemed to be running on empty. The offense’s inability to respond left Miami scoreless through the first six innings, placing them in a difficult situation. The five-run rally in the seventh demonstrated that the team has the potential to recover, yet they couldn’t deliver the decisive blow. Daniel Cuvet stood out once again, going 3-for-5 with his 15th home run and four RBIs. Additionally, Jake Ogden proved to be a significant contributor, finishing 3-for-3 with one RBI. Together, they accounted for five of Miami’s six runs and six of the nine hits. Gaby Gutierrez also marked his season with his first double.
The team will return at the Light on Thursday at 7:00 PM for a crucial match in jockeying for position in the ACC Tournament. Unfortunately, the chances of hosting a regional are looking bleak after this weekend’s results. We will need significant assistance to secure a double bye, while aiming to at least maintain a single bye. Without these, our pitching will struggle to carry us through the Tournament. Here’s hoping for a bit of Irish luck!
