Mike Kaffee
Hurricanes Baseball Reporter
[email protected]
Mark Light is a bit cleaner today as the brooms came out as the Towson Tigers were swept convincingly behind the solid pitching performance of Alex McFarlane, supported by the BP that only allowed just one hit, and an explosive offense that for the 4th time this weekend recorded runs in the double digits. After coming off of a disappointing opening day, the “REAL” Miami Hurricanes showed up on Saturday and put on an aerial bombardment of 35 runs (11,13,11) amassed behind 31 hits. Today, they capped the weekend leaving no Tiger standing allowing just 3 hits and a single run stating to all comers “bring it on, we are on a mission and no one is going to get in our way”. My words of course, and maybe a bit premature to boost when down the road they have to meet their first formidable opponent in the way of Florida. If they can half do what they did this weekend against Towson, then people, we are looking at the Real McCoy. This coming week we should sharpen our skills against a more competitive FAU Owls team and a three-game series with Harvard who will open their season against us.
Gino is very comfortable with the current lineup in not wanting to rock the boat did a little bit of tweaking but for the most part, the same starting nine that we have seen all weekend. Last night, Max had a night off from behind the plate but still DH and JD Jones got the call last night instead. The top 4 remained the same with CJ leading off, followed by Dominic, Yoyo, and Max in the cleanup role. Gino did flip Dorian and Jacob around batting 5 and 6 and finishing with Rosario returning as DH, and Lorenzo and Jacoby in the 8th and 9th position. The way Lorenzo is hitting which is “totally” lights out, you definitely might see an upward bump in the order to give him more turns at the bat. Batting 500 (7-14) with already 2 HRS, pair of doubles, a triple, and 9 RBIs I expect ACC honors for Player of the Week. His fielding Friday night is a different story but showed remarkable improvement the remainder of the series. Alex McFarlane got the starting call on the mound.
The Tigers roared first coming in the first inning with an opening double, and a SAC advancing him to third. An error by CJ letting the ball go through his legs scored the first and only run (unearned) for Towson. For the remainder of the game, the Tiger was caged only coming up with just two singles (5th, 6th) to their credit.
After a scoreless first inning, the offensive power became unleashed in the 2nd with 4 runs. Back-to-back singles by Dorian Gonzalez and Jacob Burke, walk to Mike Rosario setting it up for Lorenzo Carrier. Takes a slider on the first pitch and it is by, by to the right of the scoreboard in left-center for the GRAND SALAMI.
Not letting any grass grow under their spikes, Canes put up another 4 in the next inning. this was set up with a lead-off single by Dominic Pitelli, Yoyo getting hit, and Max Romero adding to the HR parade by taking a fastball to the opposite field for a 3 run homer. It was almost in the same location as Lorenzo. Starting with the bases clear, Jacob Burke establishes himself on first with a single. Steals second and Lorenzo does what he has been doing all series: HIT. This time for an RBI double.
Towson trailing 8-1 after two, Yoyo makes it 9-1 in the 4th with an RBI double brought in CJ who opened the inning with a single, stole second, and advanced to 3rd on a PB.
Miami took an inning off in the 5th but came back in the 6 with 2 more runs with an opening double by Renzo Gonzalez (first hit) who advances to 3rd on a FO to center. Yoyo is hit in his back followed by Max 5th walk of the season to load the bases. Dorian cements the final two runs for the Canes with a double to right. That brought the curtain down on hitting and scoring for the remainder of the game. Total damage: 11 runs on 11 hits against Towson’s 1 run and 3 hits.
Alex pitched a solid 5 innings and could have gone longer with a pitch count of 76, but Gino had all starters this weekend on an 80 pitch count. The importance here is that last year, our starters could not get beyond this barrier and all 4 starters this weekend managed to reach this mark. That and the BP putting up once again good numbers. 4 came out of the BP (Matt Raudelunas, Ronaldo Gallo, JPGates (coming off a year’s absence for Tommy Johns surgery), and David Rossow) for an inning apiece. Only one hit was allowed. If our BP can keep performing at this level, only good things will come from it.
If pitching is going to be successful, it has to go hand in hand with our offense putting runs on the board. today, only two in the starting 9 went without a hit (Rosario, Long). Everyone else with at least one with three with multiple numbers. Dorian Gonzalez 2-5 (double,2RBIs); Jacob Burke 2-3; Lorenzo carrier 2-3 (HR,double,5 RBIs). Others with extra-base hits included Renzo Gonzalez (double); Yoyo (double,RBI); Max Romero (HR,3RBIs).
Next week should be another week of preliminaries for the main event (Florida ) coming in two weeks. The schedule will only get harder but this weekend is a weekend to celebrate and come Tuesday time to prepare for the Wednesday outing with FAU at 6PM. It is not time to let up on the throttle but to bear down on the accelerator and full speed ahead. It will be interesting as to who will be the starting pitcher against the Owls. Just might be pitching by Committee hosted by our BP who has performed above and beyond.
