Alex Sosa’s two-homer performance and a relentless power surge propelled the Miami Hurricanes to a decisive 10-8 victory, securing a critical ACC series win at Mark Light Field.
Coral Gables, FL. – The Miami Hurricanes baseball program looked to clinch its sixth Atlantic Coast Conference series of the regular season. Despite the Louisville Cardinals forcing a split on Friday night in extra innings, there was still an opportunity to finish playing at Mark Light Field on a strong note.
Interesting note from the starting lineup: junior catcher Alex Sosa, who had been playing at designated hitter for the previous five games, would move to first base due to fifth-year senior Brylan West being diagnosed with a swollen right ankle.
After the Cardinals scored a run early in the first, Sosa responded with a two-run homer on two outs. It’s the 21-year-old’s 14th total of the season, already surpassing a career-best. The baseball left Mark Light Field at a distance of 388 feet and a 105 exit velocity.
The momentum was short-lived when starting right-handed pitcher sophomore AJ Ciscar gave up three runs. The Hurricanes managed to end the second inning with one run scored by freshman third baseman Gabriel Milano, batted in by sophomore center fielder Michael Torres.
Ciscar was pulled off the mound after 2.2 innings. He allowed six runs on six hits, five strikeouts, gave up a walk and three hits by pitches. Despite the bullpen concerns entering Saturday’s game, the struggles of the 20-year-old were too much to bear.
Sosa would continue to stay hot in the batter’s box after hitting a second home run of the game, moving up to 15 on the year. The baseball left center field at a distance of 417 feet and a 100 exit velocity. The home run party continued as freshman designated hitter Dylan Dubovik knocked one out of the ballpark to left field to take back control of the game. The baseball went past the scoreboard, 427 feet and had an exit velocity of 104.
After two scoreless innings, Cardinals sophomore first baseman Tague Davis broke the drought with a two-run homer. However, the Hurricanes responded with a fourth home run, this time by junior shortstop Vance Sheahan, plus another run, to regain control of the game and never look back. The bullpen would then allow just one hit in the final three innings before securing a 10-8 victory and clinching the series.
Sosa finished with the biggest performance of the game: four hits in five at-bats, two home runs, and five runs batted in. After the game, the 21-year-old revealed he never played first base, but was willing to do what it took to help the team win.
“I felt good [about playing first base],” he said. “I was looking a little lost at times. I look over at [Jake] Ogden and he’s like, ‘Hey, move over.’”
Coach J.D. Arteaga was impressed with the bullpen’s performance, but wants to see that high-level production consistently.
“It's everything,” he said. “I’m excited about it, but I’m looking for consistency. They’ve done it, but the weight that this game carried, personally, we had to win the series, I felt. The amount of stress that was on the line to win this game, those guys coming in, and our ‘Ace’ [Ciscar] not having a good day, and those guys pulling through, that was just great for them. Hopefully, they build from it.”
The Hurricanes will face the No. 14 Florida State Seminoles in a three-game series to close the regular season ahead of the ACC Tournament. Both teams will battle for the double-bye slot; already high stakes ahead of the matchup.
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