Canes fall to Cavs, beat Demon Deacons

The momentum gained with an ACC Tournament opening round win against North Carolina was lost during a seven-hour rain delay the following afternoon against top-seeded Virginia.

The Canes jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the Cavaliers, but play was called due to lightning in the second inning. Hours later the two teams resumed play and UVA chipped away at the stone, en route to victory.

Miami led 2-1 entering the sixth, but four hits, two runs and a throwing error gave Virginia momentum and tied the game. In the seventh, back-to-back singles signaled a pitching change for the Canes, with Travis Miller replacing Steven Ewing. From there, a fielder’s choice and a double drove in three runs and put the Cavaliers up, 6-3.

UM tacked on an eighth inning run when Chantz Mack doubled to left and drove in Steven Perez, but that was as close as Miami would get. The bottom of the ninth was a lackluster three up, three down inning.

Miami had three errors against Virginia, gave up fifteen hits and left eleven men on base in what was a much-needed and very winnable game.

There was redemption in Saturday’s 4-2 win over Wake Forest in the sense that Miami got the “W”, but it was expected against the bottom-seeded Demon Deacons.

The Canes were up 4-0 after three, but from that point, bats went cold and no more runs were scored. Over the next five innings, Miami got five hits and left six stranded.

Zeke DeVoss was a tournament bright spot for Miami, going 3-for-4 against Wake Forest and 8-for-10 over three games, with a .857 on-base percentage.

The Canes will learn their postseason fate on Monday morning, but Miami isn’t expected to host a regional. UM has hosted a first-round regional on 23 occasions, but will hit the road next weekend. In-state rivals Florida and Florida State will host, as will ACC rivals Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Virginia and Clemson.

Miami finished the regular season and ACC Tournament with a 36-21 record. More to come regarding regional destination at 12:30pm ET on Monday.

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