LOUISVILLE: GAME 3

“WHO LET THE DOGS OUT”? The Miami bats came out of the closet with brilliance at the plate putting on a display the likes we haven’t seen since the early part of the season. Miami takes the finale 17-5 shortened in the 7th by the Mercy Rule. Trailing by 3 early in the game after a lackluster start, the wake-up call sounded and it was all hands on deck in the second. Nine players to the plate coming away with 4 runs on three hits to take the lead. 10 unanswered runs followed before consciousness returned to the Cardinals in the 5th with a pair of runs. Miami responded with 3 in the 6th behind Daniel Cuvet’s 13th HR. Ben Chestnutt holding onto a 12-run lead caged the Cardinal in the 7th on 11 pitches to secure Miami’s first win after 6 straight losses and bringing us back into the fight of securing a bid to the Tournament. We are tied with Boston and two games ahead of Pitt and ND for the final two slots. It might come down to the final series of the season with Pitt on who goes and who stays home. 

Louisville did not waste any time picking up where they left off last night drawing first blood. They did not wait until the 4th inning to do so. They were aggressive at the plate with JT Benson opening, sending a greeting right-back to Herick’s, a blazer to his mid-section for the first out. This might have shaken Herick a bit walking the next batter throwing three straight balls before sending it to a full count before losing him. Back-to-back singles and Louisville takes the early lead 1-0. Miami for its response in the first was a pair of strikeouts and a fly out to center. 

The Cardinals started the second just like the first with an out, walk and a single setting themselves up to cause more damage at the plate. Dylan Hoy looks at the second pitch and sends it air mail special delivery over the left field fence to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead and looking very promising that they were on their way for a sweep.

The wake-up call sounded at the bottom of the second and the bats finally came out of the closet to the tune of “Who Let the Dogs Out” but in this case, it was the Cardiac Canes off and running. Nine batters came to the plate in the third starting with Dorian leading off with a double to center. Dorian advanced to 3rd on a WP and Miami is threatening with its first score 90 feet away, no outs. Costello hits a hard grounder to third and Dorian in his usual aggressive running style breaks for home not paying attention to where the ball is. He gets caught in a run down for the first out with Costello making it to second during the tag match between home and third. It appeared opportunity again lost due to not paying attention to where the ball was hit. Jack picked up the baton from Dorian with a double of his own bringing Lucas home for the Cane’s first of 14 runs to follow for the next 3 innings. Carrier is hit and Torres walks to load the bases. Jimenez sets up a force play 5-2 keeping the score at 3-1 with two outs. Top of the order and Miami’s hottest hitter with BL steps to the plate. Jacoby singles up the middle scoring scoring Torres and Carrier with Jimenez advancing to second. Edgardo lays down a bunt and the throw to first goes wide (E2) scoring Antonio from second. From a three-run deficit to a one-run lead and it is only just starting.

The third inning was crippling for Louisville and the inning where the Canes took charge of the game and never looked back. Twelve players to the plate bringing home 8 runs on four hits. Dorian started the carousel leading off with a double and Lucas brought him home with an RBI single. Scanlon walked and Torres HP loaded the bases. Jimenez walked scoring Costello. Top of the order Jacoby sends a hard grounder to second earmarked for a DP but instead E4 scores two. With runners on the corners, Jacoby steals second and Edgardo walks to load the bases again. Daniel in a bit of a slump having struck out twice earlier returns to the Daniel that we have been waiting for. Solid double down the LF line scoring two more. Miami’s 8th run comes with the 11th batter to the plate on a Lucas Costello RBI single bringing Daniel home from third. An 8 run carousel ride that had all the players grabbing for that gold ring. Miami still was not done.

In the next inning, the 4th, Miami adds to their total with Antonio Jimenez’s first collegiate HR with Carrier on board who opened the inning with a single. Fourteen unanswered runs and the Cane fans are feeling it as are the players. It was a coming-out party that the fans and players had long been waiting for.

Louisville trailing 14-3 into the 5th, they were not about to concede to the Mercy Rule loaming two innings away. They open the 5th with a one-out single followed by a walk. Just when all was going right, things returned, for a short time, to what we remember: a single compounded by an error (E7) scoring two. The 11-run lead dropped to 9 and concern was whether we could hold onto that based on history. Herick settled down getting the next two outs but we were no longer looking at the Mercy Rule.

Daniel put that thought to rest with number 13 of the season with two onboard going opposite field to right 363′. Jacoby’s one-out single and an Edgardo walk set it up for Daniel.

At 97 pitches, JD turns the ball over to Ben Chestnutt to take it on home doing so with 11 pitches. The win could not have come at a more critical time. Hopefully, the spark generated today was what we have long been looking for and carry us forward for the rest of the season. A series loss but more importantly a must-win.

The bats definitely came out of the closet today putting up 17 runs on 16 hits all within 6 innings. Four players with two hits: Jacoby Long(3RBIs), Daniel Cuvet, Dorian Gonzalez, and Lucas Costello (2RBIs). four of the 16 hits were for doubles: Daniel Cuvet, Dorian Gonzalez(2), Jack Scanlon. Finally Daniel Cuvet (5RBIs) and Antonio Jimenez(3RBIs) each with a HR. The only players without a hit: were Edgardo who reached base 3 of his 4 at bat (2W and an error) and Jason Torres who is now 3-41 and has struck out 45 times tied with Daniel Cuvet who struck out 3 times today. Daniel has worked himself out of his slump which can not be said with Jason who continually struggles at the plate.

Herick gave us 6 innings of 7 hits and 5 runs. He had good innings and not so good but overall better than the last showing where he lasted just 4 innings against FSU. 

Today was an important finish for the Canes. Having lost 11 games in the last 12 outings this was a must-win if we were to stay in the running to attend the Tournament. Next week it doesn’t get any easier with Georgia Tech who took the weekend series from Virginia. Each series from here on out will be a MUST series. Before traveling to Atlanta we have FAU on Tuesday at home 6PM.