Miami triumphed in the Regional, overcoming Alabama with a score of 5-3. The victory was marked by impressive home runs from Daniel Cuvet and Max Galvin, complemented by solid pitching from AJ Ciscar.

In a breathtaking finale, Miami secures a stunning victory and moves forward to challenge the winner of tonight’s contest between Southern Mississippi and Columbia. It was a nail-biting 29 pitches in the 9th inning before Alabama fell short, just inches from claiming the win. With the winning run at the plate, Brian Walters found himself in a showdown against Kade Snell, their star hitter who had already notched a hit earlier in the game.

The Miami Hurricanes burst onto the field with a powerful start, showcasing their prowess in the first inning. Following a walk drawn by Jake, Max delivered a single to right field, setting the tone for the inning. This momentum carried through as Daniel smashed his 17th home run of the season, giving Miami a commanding early lead of 3-0. As the fourth inning unfolded, the Canes continued to build their advantage. Daniel hit a double to start strong, and Renzo seized the moment with a crucial two-out RBI single, granting them a commanding 4-0 lead early on.

JD takes a strategic step in a noteworthy development by altering the pitching rotation and selecting AJ Ciscar to face the formidable second-seed Alabama Crimson Tide. As expected, AJ displayed impressive skill during the first three innings, recording four strikeouts and maintaining a shutout. Remarkably, of his first 25 pitches, 21 were strikes. By the end of the third inning, AJ had thrown just 33 pitches. However, the fourth inning posed unforeseen difficulties, leading to a shift in momentum.

AJ started the fourth by hitting his 18th batter of the year, leading the ACC in that category. He rebounded by striking out the next batter, but allowed back-to-back singles that loaded the bases. Alabama scored its first run on a groundout to first, followed by a 2-RBI double that cut the Canes’ lead to 4-3. A 25-pitch inning might have seemed to unravel him, but it did just the opposite; the Crimson Tide managed only one hit over the next three innings before ending his day with 97 pitches and eight strikeouts.

In the 5th inning, the Canes responded with a homer from Max Galvin, providing Miami with a vital two-run cushion and extending their lead to 5-3, which they maintained into the 9th inning. In the 8th inning, Carson Fischer took over relief duties from AJ and relied on Rob Evans for a key strikeout, managing to escape a tense situation with runners on 1st and 2nd and two outs to end the inning.

With a two-run lead, Miami called upon its closer, Brian Walters, anticipating a straightforward 1-2-3 inning. However, he had the Cane fans anxiously on edge after easily dispatching the first two batters. At the top of the order, Bryce Fowler tested Brian’s stamina, diligently fouling off multiple pitches before hitting a sharp line drive to first on the 14th pitch, which Renzo could not secure. It was ruled an error, reigniting the Tide’s hopes and bringing Justin Lebron to the plate, a player regarded as a potential #1 draft choice next year, embodying the tying run. With a team-leading 18 home runs, the tension in the air was unmistakable. Brian seemed fatigued after a lengthy 14-pitch battle, pushing the count to 3-1 before hitting him. This set the stage for the winning run, with runners on first and second. Kade Snell had the 5329 predominantly Alabama fans in suspense as he connected on a 1-0 count and launched a ball deep to right, seemingly a sure walk-off home run. Yet, Michael Torres, with his back against the fence, made the catch for the final out, keeping Miami’s dreams alive as they advanced to the winner’s bracket, now awaiting the outcome of the Southern Mississippi-Columbia game.

Four of Miami’s five runs were driven in by two home runs from Daniel Cuvet, who recorded a 2-for-4 performance with three RBIs and a double, alongside Max Galvin, who went 2-for-5 with one RBI. However, outside of these home runs, the Miami hitters continue to struggle in finding their rhythm, as evidenced by nine strikeouts. For Miami to advance, its offensive productivity must improve significantly. Without the contributions from the home runs, it’s clear this game might have had a very different outcome. Although we showed promise with a strong start in the first inning, we failed to elevate our performance thereafter.

AJ Ciscar was exceptional, aside from the 4th inning. He baffled the Alabama hitters, racking up eight strikeouts over a season-high seven innings. His only lapse was his 19th hit batter; with more experience, he will undoubtedly improve in this area. As for Brian, he didn’t show his typical sharpness, struggling through a 14-pitch at-bat. It was a bit unsettling when he allowed the tying run on base by hitting a batter. The tension in the air was palpable as the final ball soared toward the wall. A win is a win, and we are grateful for it. Griffin Hugus needs to bring his best game tomorrow, as Brian may not have enough left in the tank, and the other bullpen options are often a bit unpredictable.

Tomorrow’s game is a late one, starting at 9 PM