Mike Kaffee, Community News Canes Baseball reporter.
Despite two rain delays, Miami was unable to overcome the challenges presented by Louisville, ultimately losing the opener 8-1 in a notably lopsided matchup. By the start of the second inning, it became evident that the odds were heavily in favor of the Cardinals, both in pitching and hitting. In the second and third innings, with the bases loaded and fewer than two outs, Miami could muster only a single run through a sacrifice fly by Renzo Gonzalez. The offense faced significant hurdles, striking out 12 times and managing a mere .188 batting average. Additionally, AJ Ciscar struggled on the mound, lasting only 2.1 innings and giving up seven runs in what can be described as a disappointing performance. Similar to their previous game against Mississippi, this match felt largely decided by the 4th inning when the Cardinals established an overwhelming 8-1 lead. Miami showed glimpses of resilience in the 7th and 8th innings with leadoff doubles from Max and Tanner, but they were unable to progress beyond second base. The team left 12 players stranded and failed to capitalize on 11 opportunities with runners in scoring position, going 0-for-11. Now, all eyes turn to tomorrow, where they face the task of either forcing a Game 3 or preparing for the summer ahead.
The second inning signaled a turning point for AJ, who unfortunately surrendered back-to-back home runs as the Cardinals took their turn at bat. Of the three outs that followed, two were hit to left field and came dangerously close to clearing the fences but ultimately stayed within the playing field. Regrettably, AJ’s performance took a downturn in the third inning, where he loaded the bases after allowing a one-out double, issuing an intentional walk, and hitting a batter. What could have been a routine double play turned into a costly two-run error when AJ threw wide to home plate. Following this mishap, the Cardinals capitalized further with a three-run home run. Despite the struggles, AJ continued for two more batters, both of whom managed to hit singles. This sequence led to a total of five runs for Louisville, which would prove sufficient for their victory. They later extended their lead in the following inning by loading the bases and scoring on a sacrifice fly while Miami seemed resigned to their fate, conserving their bullpen for the next game.
This season, the performance of the Canes has shown a significant correlation between pitching and hitting. Unfortunately, the offense struggled to deliver a strong showing, with Max Galvin being a standout as he went 3-for-5, including two doubles. Dorian added to the offense with the only other extra-base hit. However, five of the nine players in the lineup were unable to secure a hit. As previously noted, batting at a low average of .188 and tallying 12 strikeouts is unlikely to secure victories. If the team doesn’t elevate its play in tomorrow’s game, the season will come to an end. This applies equally to the pitching staff; if Griffin doesn’t bring his best performance, the Canes risk concluding their season with another disappointing loss.
The second game kicks off bright and early with an 11AM first pitch.
