Mike Kaffee
Hurricanes Baseball Reporter
[email protected]
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets STUNG the Miami Hurricanes as they skidded into their 3rd consecutive loss. Miami’s failure to get the big hit when it most needed is the storyline for tonight. Leaving 12 runners on base, base loaded twice, and only to manage 2-9 with RISP says it all. For the second week Carson Palmquist pitched brilliantly only throwing 87 pitches for 7 innings, striking out 5, and not walking anyone. The 6 hits that he gave up, two of which were STINGERS and the difference makers in tonight’s game.
Georgia Tech leading in practically every category offensively ( batting, hits, and HRs) in the ACC had to turn to their #2 and #3 hitters (Kevin Parada and Andrew Jenkins) for their 2 HRs accounting for 4 of the 6 hits that Tech managed from the combined pitching of Palmquist and Ziehl. For the most part, Carson and Gage kept the Jacket hitters caged but lacked the offensive support from the continuous lack of hitting. Did not record their first hit until the 5th inning. Not to say the opportunity to score not being available for the Canes had runners in scoring position in the 4th-8th innings with BL twice coming in the 6th and 8th. It was GT pitching and key defensive plays by the GT infield that derail breakout innings and we continued to put zeros on the scoreboard. Carson Palmquist did everything that was required of him, going deep in the game against a hitting machine who except for Parada and Jenkins did just that. Leaving too many runners stranded and 6 scattered hits, put the accountability of tonight’s defeat on the bats not fulfilling their part of the mission.
The only changes to tonight’s lineup were Zach Levenson as DH batting 7th, Mike Rosario in right batting 8th, and Henry Wallen at 2B in the 9th position. Max returned to his duties behind the plate batting clean-up. Friday starter Carson Palmquist is on the hill.
All was quiet from both sides until the 4th inning with one out. Kevin Parada batting .387 takes a 1-1 count and delivers a moon shot of 446′ to left, his 22nd of the year, (NCAA leader) to break the scoreless lockout to 1-0. Two innings later, opening the 6th Andrew Jenkins batting .399 joins Parada with a shot hitting the scoreboard in center which would be all that Tech needed to take game one. A one-out single with a runner on second added an insurance run in the 8th which was exactly that; an insurance run.
Miami with 12 left stranded, Miami just could not come up with the key hit when most needed. 4th inning runners on 1st and 2nd one out; nada. 5th inning, same situation: one out men on 1st and second. A single by CJ Kayfus,2nd hit of the inning, scores Rosario who recorded Miami’s first hit. When you think the bats are finally coming alive runners on 1st and 2nd one out; nada. 6th and 8th BL; nada. The 8th was definitely the inning where the Cardiac Kids had the best opportunity of changing the whole complexion of the game. Three spectacular plays from the infield saved the day for the Jackets. The final hurt by their shortstop of a Gaby scorcher for the final out with BL was the backbreaker that ended Miami’s rally and the best opportunity of changing the entire complexion of the game.
It was a tough game to lose but not doing anything at the plate doesn’t win ballgames. CJ Kayfus was the only Cane with multiple hits going 2-5. All 6 hits tonight were for singles.
The only highlight of the night was Maxwell Romero, who on his birthday, had a 2-3 night at the plate. He was instrumental in leading off both the 6th and 8th with a single which led to BL on both occasions only to fail in producing a run.
Miami has to regroup from its downward spiral of 3 straight. We have gone from one of the hottest teams in college baseball to one of the coldest. Karson Ligon will be handed the ball, but if the offense does not step up, this Karson will feel the same frustration as tonight’s Carson.
First pitch 4PM.
