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The narrative has become all too familiar this season: the team consistently falls short in offense, defense, and pitching. For the second time in just six days, the Miami Hurricanes narrowly avoided a loss due to the Run Rule. Their escape came in the 7th inning when Bobbie Marsh hit a critical one-out single, preventing the Mercy Rule from being enforced. Stetson had already accumulated nine unanswered runs until Derek Williams stepped up, launching his 5th home run of the season into left field and finally putting Miami on the scoreboard.
Starter Reese Lumpkin looked sharp in the first two innings, retiring the Hatters’ hitters in order. The third inning marked the beginning of a defensive collapse when the Canes committed the first of five errors, signaling the start of their downfall. In the fourth inning, the Hatters sent 11 batters to the plate and scored five runs on just three hits, benefiting from 3 errors and a balk. They added another run in the fifth and two more in the seventh, thanks to poor defense and an additional error at shortstop, which was ruled as a single, increasing the score to 11-1. If not for a throwing error by the Hatter catcher, the game would have concluded in the seventh. The reprieve for the remaining fans was difficult to watch as yet another mid-week loss was tacked on to this disappointing season.
The Canes’ pitching struggled to perform, from the starter to the bullpen. It wasn’t entirely their fault tonight, as they had the support of a defense that stumbled their way through the game. After Reese Lumpkin failed to record a single out in the fourth, it was pitching by committee, with six pitchers coming from the bullpen, and Tate DeRias lasting the longest at 1.1 innings, while Michael Fernandez recorded the shortest outing, unable to complete the fifth. The one intriguing prospect to emerge from this revolving door of pitchers was the final entry of the night: Nick Robert. This could indicate a shift in rotation for the upcoming weekend against NC, suggesting that Robert may no longer hold the Friday starter position and could instead be moved to Sunday. Frankly, imagining anyone else stepping into the weekend rotation is hard. If Robert does transition out of the rotation, he might assume the role of our missing closer, a position where he has some experience from last year.
The night was marked by the Canes’ bats struggling to find their rhythm. Fabio kicked off the game with the first hit in the first inning, but Daniel quickly dampened the momentum by hitting into a 6-4-3 double play. It wasn’t until the 4th inning that the offense showed any signs of life, starting with an opening walk to Jake Ogden. Daniel had a chance to make a strong impression with an opposite-field hit that should have easily been a double, but his lack of hustle resulted in him being thrown out from right field. Finally, in the 5th inning, after enduring nine unanswered runs, the Canes broke through with a 388-foot home run to left by Derek Williams. In the 7th inning, with a 10-run deficit and three outs away from a potential game-ending mercy rule, Max Galvin initiated a spark with a lead-off walk, then stole second base. A wild throw from the catcher went into center field, allowing Max to advance to 90 feet from home plate. Facing a full count, Bobby Marsh stepped up and delivered an RBI single to right, extending the game. The Canes generated two more singles in the 8th, yet failed to convert, and Nolan Johnson found himself stranded on third after reaching base with two outs in the 9th. Uncontested, he stole second and third, but ultimately, Dorian struck out, sealing yet another disappointing loss in a season plagued by defeats.
The Canes must recognize the real possibility of ending the weekend below .500 if they get swept. The team needs to find its rhythm quickly, as time is critical with the postseason approaching. While it’s uncertain who will start on Friday, the most logical choice appears to be Griffin Hugus, as he gives us the best chance to start strong. Expect Brian Walters to be elevated to Saturday’s game, and we’ll see if Nick Robert can keep his spot for Sunday. The first pitch for game one is scheduled for Friday at 6:00 PM.
