FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY: GAME 2

Noles take the series as Miami pitching falters once again. A lack of depth and an inexperienced BP could not stop the overpowering offense that dominated tonight’s game. The offense who did their job just ran out of steam trying to keep up with the number of runs today’s pitching crew relinquished. The Noles scored in every inning except the 8th with twisted numbers in four of the 8 innings. Miami’s 7th straight ACC loss and barring some miracle they will be observing the ACC Tournament from home.

Miami got off to a good start with a two-out single by Daniel with Dorian following with an RBI double to draw first blood. This would be the only time Miami would have a chance to celebrate. The offense turned the one-run lead over to Rafe who went on a self-destructive day on the hill. On his first pitch, he hit the batter and then went south from there only able to last 3.1 innings giving up 7 runs on 9 hits and hitting 3 batters. By far his worst performance in a Cane uniform. Rafe erased the one-run lead in the first with a pair of doubles and a single accounting for two runs and fortunate it wasn’t three when Williams ran through the stop sign by the 3rd base coach and got thrown out 9-4-2. The two runs in the first would be the beginning of a non-stop wrecking train of 11 runs before Ben Chestnutt brought to a halt the Runaway Express in the 8th with a scoreless inning.

The Canes were down 4-1 after two but responded in the third with three runs to draw to within a run of the Noles. Jacoby would open the third with a lead-off single followed by Edgardo hitting the ball off the right-field screen putting runners of 2nd and 3rd, no outs. With signs of the early season, Daniel delivers with his 13th homer (383′) of the year tying the score at four sending starter Brady Louke packing. Carrier would continue the resurgence with his 8th double of the season and Scanlon joins him on the bases with a walk with just one out bringing Jason Torres to the plate. Starting with the Duke series Jason has been in a downward spiral at the plate with another disappointing performance yesterday going 0-4. A chance to turn everything around and give the Canes the lead, he continued his hitless ways by flying out to right. Lucas Costello unable to continue the rally with runners on the corners strikes out.

The score tied at 4 and new life, the offense did their job and turned it over to Rafe to do his. A lead-off walk, single, SAC, and the decision by Cuvet to go to first rather than home would give the lead back to the Noles which they would not relinquish. Adding two more runs in the 4th on James Tibbs’s first homer of the year gave the Noles a three-run lead, ending the shortened day for Rafe. JD would turn to the bullpen (Olivera, Scinta, Diaz,Caruso and finally Chestnutt) and except for Chestnutt, no one had an answer to slow down the Noles.

Miami trailing 7-4 in the fifth narrowed the margin by one with Daniel’s second HR (420′) of the day giving him 14 for the season but too little too late. Noles would respond with 4 unanswered runs upping the score to 11-5 and Miami would need a lot of Miami Magic in the final two innings to bring the deciding game for tomorrow. There was still a bit of life in the Miami bats in the 8th. A one-out double by Jake Kulikowski, PH for Torres, followed by a single by Costello and a walk to Urso brings to the plate Jacoby with bases loaded. Jacoby turns it over to Edgardo after flying out to shallow right field to provide the needed magic. Magic he does with a two-run single bringing the Canes to within 4. That is where the Magic ends with a 3up/3down 9th for the Canes’ 4th consecutive ACC series loss looking at its third sweep.

It was not the hitting or the fielding that provided the loss today but the pitching crew unable to sustain the relentless attack from the Noles battery of hitters. Cane’s hitters fared well batting overall .316 but not able to put the hits together as well as the Noles being able to move the line in 7 of the 8 innings at bat. Jason was the only Cane not to reach base going 0-3 with a pair of strikeouts. Four players with multiple numbers: Jacoby Long 2-5; Edgardo Villegas 2-5 (double,2RBIs); Daniel Cuvet 3-5(2HRs,4RBIs); Dorian Gonzalez 2-4(double,RBI); and Lucas Costello 2-4. Additionally, Jake Kulikowski and Lorenzo Carrier each had a double. Regarding Blake Cyr, it was learned today that he will be having surgery on his thumb and will be out for the remainder of the year.

The pitching is the same old story. Lack of depth and an inexperience BP. Rafe had his worst showing leaving the game after 3.1 innings and only 64 pitches.

JD in the post-game interview stated:“Our bullpen didn’t get the job done, “They had a job to do and put fires out. Florida State did a good job putting pressure on us and getting the first or second guy on every inning. Our guys didn’t come in and shut the door. Kudos to them and a poor job by our bullpen.”

Herick will have to give us a similar performance as last week if we don’t want to experience our third consecutive sweep. First pitch 1PM.