A decade-long championship drought continues as Georgia Tech stifles Miami Hurricanes’ late-season momentum, shattering hopes for an elusive ACC title with a decisive semifinal defeat.
Miami, FL. — The Miami Hurricanes entered Friday morning with an opportunity to pull off a major upset against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the ACC Baseball Tournament semifinals. They were riding significant momentum, including the pitching staff and infield.
The program hadn’t won an ACC Baseball Championship since 2008. Unfortunately, the long drought continues, as the Hurricanes were eliminated from contention after a 9-3 loss to the Yellow Jackets.
“A lot of credit to Georgia Tech,” coach J.D. Arteaga said postgame. “We just didn’t quite ever make the adjustment.”
The Yellow Jackets’ offense proved to be too much to handle for the Hurricanes’ pitching staff, carving out an early 6-0 lead behind three home runs. It started with junior catcher and ACC Defensive Player of the Year Vahn Lackey hitting the baseball out of Truist Field, followed by junior third baseman Ryan Zuckerman exploding in back-to-back at-bats.
The Hurricanes had opportunities to keep the game close, but the offense couldn’t get over the hump, leaving six runners on base between the first and fourth innings, including four in scoring position. They wouldn’t punch the scoreboard until the seventh, when freshmen catcher Alonzo Alvarez and designated hitter Dylan Dubovik managed to reach home plate with a couple of balls put in play.
Despite the late surge, it was short-lived, as the Hurricanes only logged two hits and one extra run in the final three innings. The infield defensive struggles popped up; senior second baseman Jake Ogden, junior shortstop Vance Sheahan, and junior first baseman Alex Sosa committed all three of the team’s errors. Coach Arteaga mentioned after the game that making multiple mistakes while walking seven batters won’t lead to good results.
The Hurricanes had nine hits for the game, six coming from the young freshmen: Alvarez, Dubovik, and third baseman Gabriel Milano. They have each delivered a significant impact throughout the ACC Tournament, leaving coach Arteaga encouraged about the program’s future.
“Every year, since I’ve been here, we’ve been getting a little better,” he said. “We’re trending in the right direction, nowhere near where we want to be, but we’re definitely getting better.”
The Hurricanes will await the next destination for postseason baseball as the Monday, May 25, selection show approaches. According to D1Baseball, they’re projected to be a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament, traveling to Texas to face the Longhorns. The level of competition only rises the further the team goes.
- Can Miami Hurricanes baseball coach J.D. Arteaga end the program’s championship drought?
- The Miami Hurricanes basketball program is reportedly scheduled to open the upcoming season against an in-state rival.
- Several Miami Hurricanes baseball players earned All-ACC honors, including a few first-timers.
- Coach Mario Cristobal believes the Miami Hurricanes should face an in-state rival every year.
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Anthony Aguirre is the Miami Hurricanes beat writer for Roundtable Sports. Contact info: [email protected] | 305-987-3290 | Follow on Instagram/X: @AnthonyA_Sports
