The weather might not have cooperated, but the result was still optimum as Miami swept Rutgers this weekend at Mark Light.
Friday’s contest was cancelled, forcing a Saturday doubleheader, which Miami won – dramatically with a 5-4 opener and a 4-1 follow-up, shortened due to time. Come Sunday, a convincing, 7-0 thumping of the Scarlet Knights.
The Canes are a bit under the radar this season, starting the year unranked for the first time since … 1994. Of course that’s no slight, and with good reason. Miami hasn’t sniffed Omaha since the 2008 season and ended 2012 with a thud, getting run out of the ACC Tournament after three games before an all-time Regionals faceplant — falling 10-2 to Stony Brook and then 12-2 to Missouri State, in the losers’ bracket.
Where Miami has reason for excitement; a top-ten recruiting class, where unlike football, there can be an immediate impact felt across the board. Westminster Christian standout – and back-up Canes quarterback – David Thompson saw some action this weekend, as did Brandon Lopez, of Plantation American Heritage. Palm Beach State transfer Alexander Hernandez is being thrown into the fire, as well.
Equally as exciting as the new talent, the lack of errors. After posting two in game one, Miami went error-free the next sixteen innings of baseball, putting it all together in Sunday’s shutout.
Miami jumped on Rutgers, putting up two in the bottom of the third, before picking up a run in both the fourth and fifth innings.
Leading, 4-0 going into the bottom of the seventh, the Canes put it away with an RBI single from Dale Carey – who scored the winning run in game one on Saturday – as well as a two-out double by Brad Feiger. Miami had eleven hits to Rutgers’ seven, and was error-free to the Scarlet Knights’ three.
Next up for Miami, a Wednesday night home showdown against crosstown rival Florida Atlantic, before a three-game home-stand against Milwaukee next weekend. From there things stay relatively tame with St. Thomas and Barry visiting, before a three-game road trip to Florida, starting Friday March 1st.
With Miami taking on Florida in baseball on Saturday March 2nd and the Canes basketball team in Durham to face the Blue Devils that evening, it has all the makings of a epic sports day for fans of ‘The U’.
Great way to start out the season! Canes have a lot to prove this year. A big step would be reducing the number of errors and picking up the timely hitting.
Go Canes!
Jake in Yokosuka