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The Canes, after seemingly regaining their form in the last two games, faced a harsh reality check against the Duke Blue Devils, who decisively defeated them 13-3 in a one-sided contest. From the very first inning, the scene was grim as Duke’s batting lineup overwhelmed Griffin, scoring four runs after two outs. Hugus, clearly struggling in the initial inning, was unable to recover, throwing 33 pitches and resulting in a short outing. Miami briefly reduced the deficit in the third with a two-run blast from Max Galvin, his fourth of the season. The teams exchanged runs in the fourth inning, but disaster struck in the sixth, once again after two outs, when Duke sealed the game with a barrage that included six runs driven in by two home runs, one of which was a grand slam, along with four hits and two hit batsmen. Despite teetering on the edge of the run rule, the Canes managed to hold off the inevitable until the ninth inning, at which point the Blue Devils tacked on two more runs to push their lead to 13-3. The Canes exited the field after one of their worst performances this season, finishing with just three runs on five hits.
Griffin, who has been struggling lately to get out of the first inning, faced significant control issues tonight, more than in previous games. He hit two batters, including one with the bases loaded, contributing to the Blue Devils batting around and scoring four runs on five hits. Needing 33 pitches to escape deeper trouble, it was clear that if Griffin didn’t bring his A game—something he clearly failed to do—the Canes were in for a long night, which is exactly what occurred.
Miami’s offense, having shown potency in their last two outings, faltered against Duke’s pitching staff, managing only five hits. The sole highlight came in the third inning when Max Galvin launched his fourth home run of the season, coupled with an RBI single from Daniel. The fourth inning briefly sparked some offensive life with back-to-back hits from Dorian, who delivered a double, and Tanner, contributing an RBI single. Their fifth hit appeared in the ninth inning when Gaby loaded the bases. However, Evan Taveras’s 1-3 ground out decisively ended the night, showcasing a lackluster hitting performance and a pitching effort that involved cycling through eight pitchers in a desperate attempt to control the bleeding, which they were unable to do.
The chapter on tonight’s game is closed, and tomorrow we will write a new one. If the hitting fails to recover and the pitching does not take command, brace for another long, frustrating night. Duke’s defense this evening was exceptional, executing unbelievable plays consistently. Any decline in their performance could have tightened this game. Miami cannot afford to fall behind, and AJ Ciscar must bring his absolute best. The outcome of the opening inning will decisively shape how the rest of the game unfolds. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:00PM.
