A back-and-forth thriller at Mark Light Field turned into a late-night heartbreak as the Louisville Cardinals capitalized on extra-inning opportunities to stifle the Miami Hurricanes' resilient comeback attempt.
Coral Gables, FL. – The Miami Hurricanes baseball program was coming off a significant 13-8 victory over the Louisville Cardinals on Thursday night to start the three-game series. They dominated the fifth inning by scoring nine runs and had three players record multiple hits. It was important for the team to continue the momentum.
Freshman Alonzo Alvarez remained at catcher for a fifth consecutive game, putting junior Alex Sosa at designated hitter, and sophomore right-handed pitcher Lazaro Collera was set to start on the mound.
After a quiet first two-and-a-half innings, Alvarez hit a double down to left field, plus Sosa was at third, with only one out. The Hurricanes had an opportunity to punch the scoreboard first. They would capitalize after junior shortstop Vance Sheahan hit a single shallow to center field, bringing home a couple of runs to the scoreboard.
The Cardinals looked to respond after freshman second baseman Kade Elam singled to left field, getting the team’s first hit of the game. However, the Hurricanes closed all opportunities in the meantime after a double-play on him and freshman shortstop Zach Davis.
The team looked to maintain momentum, but the bottom of the third was short-lived, ending with Sosa getting caught stealing second.
The Cardinals would then flip the game around after sophomore first baseman Davis Tague hit a three-run homer deep to center field, followed by a junior catcher Jimmy Nugent home run deep to left field. The Hurricanes managed to prevent any more damage, but there was a steep hole to come back from.
They would have opportunities to score as fifth-year senior first baseman Brylan West was on third and Alvarez on second, but a quick three outs shut down the window.
The Cardinals brought in another run at the top of the fifth inning after sophomore right fielder Griffin Crain hit a single to center field, allowing Elam to add to the lead. However, the Hurricanes would retake control of the game.
After junior second baseman Jake Ogden and redshirt senior left fielder Max Galvin reached base, fifth-year senior right fielder Derek Williams doubled to left field, bringing a run home. Sosa entered the batter’s box and hit a first-pitch three-run homer to regain the lead. The baseball left Mark Light Field at a 400-mile distance, with an exit velocity of 103.
The sixth and seventh innings went scoreless, with only two total hits accounted for by the Hurricanes, until the Cardinals regained the lead at the top of the eighth. After a couple of pitching substitutions, the visitors brought home a couple of runs from a single to center field by senior third baseman Brayam Hot. The score was 7-6 before the Hurricanes got back on offense, looking to respond. Despite failing to capitalize, they made up for it in the bottom of the ninth.
The Hurricanes squeezed a run to tie the game, but couldn’t contain the momentum, allowing the game to head to extra innings. After both teams went scoreless in the 10th, the Cardinals went on to score nine runs in the 11th, resulting in a 16-9 loss for the local program.
The series clincher will take place on Saturday, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time and sophomore right-handed pitcher AJ Ciscar will start on the mound.
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