BYU: GAME 3

Miami failed to accomplish the SWEEP giving up 7 unanswered runs in the final 3 innings losing 8-2. Not since the opening weekend against NJIT have we been able to take three straight against an opponent. It can best be summarized as to why by simply stating inconsistent hitting, sloppy defense, and above all else, no pitching. We came into today’s contest with high hopes of breaking this drought only to be victimized by what has plagued us all season: hitting, fielding, and pitching.

Herick Hernandez was given the honor to take us there but found his pitch count started skyrocketing out of control before losing it all in the 6th falling victim to his Achilles Heel; serving up the HR ball. Leading the team with 12 for the season upped it to 13 as the Cougars tied the score at two and threatened with more. Instead, JD turned to his BP. With the change in pitching, the Canes slid into oblivion. As quickly as JD brought in a new pitcher, he was back out on the hill as HR after HR flew out of the yard. Chestnut came in to relieve Hernandez and issued a 2-run HR. Diaz came in the 7th and issued a solo HR. Robert, our so-called “CLOSER” started the 8th but after a triple and double for a pair of runs, JD had to bring in Caba to settle the outpouring of runs which he did after initially throwing a WP to advance the runner to third. With the game already out of control, JD goes to the well in the hope of one final time with Jordan Vargas but like his predecessors before him issued BYU its 4th homer of the day. Chris Scinta the 7th pitcher of the day finally ended the hurt.

What were the Canes doing to respond to the unstoppable number of runs: NOTHING. Miami put it all on the line with a pair of HRS by Dorian and Lucas in the 4th to give Miami a 2-0 lead but were effortless with the bat the remainder of the game. The closest they came to add to their lead came in the 5th with runners on second and third one out but came away with Daniel striking out and Dorian grounding out 4-3. After the 5th it was all BYU putting up runs in each of the final four innings blanking Miami.

Miami with another slow start didn’t get on the board until the 4th with a pair of solo HRs to give the Canes the early lead 2-0. Daniel did have a 2-out double in the first but that would be as far as he would go. Perez opened the second which ended with a 4-6 ground out. The third, JD Urso led off with a double and for whatever reason got caught stealing in a not-so-close play at third. No idea what he was thinking. After scoring twice in the 4th, had runners on 2nd and 3rd from back-to-back singles (Jacoby, Edgardo) with one out but failed to capitalize. After that, BYU took over in the 6th with 8 unanswered runs. Miami ventured to get back in the game in the 6th with two scattered singles as well as the 7th having runners on the corners from Edgardo and Dorian both singling which would be the Canes last hurrah.

Offensively, Miami collected 11 hits which only accounted for 2 runs. This summarizes the team’s inability to string hits together. Overall, looking at the overall batting they hit .289 but with runners on only 3-17 and 0-6 with RISP. Leaving 11 runners stranded you don’t win ballgames. Three players with multiple hits: Edgardo Villegas 2-3; Dorian Gonzalez 2-5 (HR,RBI); and Carlos Perez 2-4. Additionally, Lucas recorded his 5th HR of the season, JD Urso with his second double, and finally Daniel Cuvet his 14 double of the year.

Defensively, Antonio Jimenez once again was a disaster with a pair of throwing errors in the third and fifth innings and could have had a third in the 6th after dropping a hardliner which the scorekeeper was generous rewarding a hit. With Scanlon still out with I believe a wrist injury from being hit and Jason Torres being held in reserve looking for his return next week, the infield is in a shambles. JD is shuffling bodies to shore up the infield but hasn’t as yet found the right combination. He even tried Daniel at first in the closing inning which he played during preseason and has used  Eric Fernandez sparingly at third. In the absence of Torres at first, his best replacement has been Carlos with Jack behind the plate. Shortstop will be a continuing problem until next year and hopefully, by then Daniel will have enough summer ball experience to settle down with his errors at third.

Pitching has been a nightmare and there has been enough said throughout the season to add anything more. The one true starter Gage Ziehl can’t do it all on his own and Rafe and Herick, specifically Herick, need to get their act together for the final push if we expect an invitation to Charlotte. The first stop next weekend is Blacksburg, Virginia where we must take the series to put us in a better position in facing Pitt in the final week which might decide on who goes and who doesn’t. The first pitch on Friday night at VT is 7PM.