Self-inflicted errors and a stagnant offense derailed the Miami Hurricanes in a lopsided defeat, allowing the Florida State Seminoles to dominate the mound and secure a pivotal ACC series victory.
Miami, FL. – The Miami Hurricanes were looking to bounce back against the No. 11 Florida State Seminoles, even the series, after collapsing in the ninth and extra innings in Thursday night’s loss. Despite having a 6-1 lead, the bullpen, infield defense, and base-running errors from freshman third baseman Gabriel Milano allowed the game to slip away.
On Friday night, junior catcher Alex Sosa remained at first base and fifth-year senior Brylan West returned to the lineup as a designated hitter. Despite being pulled out of Thursday night’s game in the bottom of the sixth, Milano started at third base.
Redshirt senior center fielder Max Galvin punched the scoreboard first with a 343-foot home run to right field with a 95 exit velocity. It was only the 23-year-old’s second of the season. Despite establishing early momentum for the Hurricanes, the Seminoles didn’t wait too long to respond this time. They scored two runs off three hits before the end of the second.
However, the offensive spark didn’t stop there, as sophomore catcher Hunter Carns hit a solo homer to center field on a first pitch to start the bottom of the third inning. Entering the fourth, the Seminoles squeezed out another run after sophomore righty Lazro Collera walked freshman left fielder John Stuetzer with the bases loaded.
The Hurricanes would retire the 20-year-old early off the mound, sending in freshman lefty Sebastian Santos-Olson to take over the mound. Despite the pitching change, the infield defense struggled to contain a couple of batters and committed crucial errors, resulting in an extra run. Santos-Olson was pulled after 31 total pitches, leaving freshman righty Erick Peralta to handle a loaded base situation. The Brooklyn native managed to prevent any further damage to close out the fourth.
After three consecutive scoreless innings, the Seminoles struck the dagger when junior third baseman Cal Fisher hit a two-run single up the middle. The Hurricanes would not get an opportunity to respond in the ninth after the game was shut down with an 11-1 final score.
Coach J.D. Arteaga and the team failed to pull off an upset on the road and take an important series, which will affect the ACC standings.
The Seminoles’ pitching staff, junior lefty Trey Beard and junior righty Brodie Purcell, proved to be unfazed by the Hurricanes’ batting threats. They combined for 133 total pitches, 87 strikes, 13 strikeouts, giving up just five hits and one run.
The Hurricanes will look to avoid a sweep on Saturday with a 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time start.
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