Categories: Uncategorized

Gainesville Regional : Miami 7, Jacksonville 2

Miami took down Jacksonville in the opening game of the Gainesville Regional on Friday, 7-2 and hours later Florida torched Manhattan, 17-3, meaning the Sunshine State rivals will get a much-anticipated showdown at 4pm ET on Saturday at McKethan Stadium.

The Canes jumped out to a first inning 1-0 lead over the Dolphins when Zeke DeVoss reached first on a throwing error, advanced to second on a Nathan Melendres ground out and came home when Rony Rodriguez doubled down the left field line.

The teams traded runs in the third. Miami picked one up in the fifth and Jacksonville scored in the seventh, making for a close 3-2 game entering the eighth when the Canes finally exploded for four runs and put the game out of reach.

Melendres got things underway, singling to left and stealing second after a pitching change. Rodriguez drew a walk and Harold Martinez singled to left, loading the bases. Chris Pelaez struck out swinging for the first out and after another pitching change, Brad Feiger reached on a fielder’s choice. Martinez reached second on a throwing error and Melendres scored.

Stephen Perez drew a walk, scoring Mack and Dale Carey singled to right, moved the base runners, brought Martinez home and after Corey Janson struck out, Zeke DeVoss drew a walk and brought home another run, walking in Feiger.

Up 7-2, closer Daniel Miranda ran through three straight Jacksonville batters in the top of the ninth, shutting down the game.

Next up for Miami, a showdown with Florida. The Canes have lost nine of ten to the Gators so there will be a chip on this team’s shoulder entering Saturday.

Let’s hope for some solid pitching, strong defense, smart small ball and some much-needed heart against the second-seeded Gators.

Comments

comments

C. Bello

Longtime Miami Hurricanes columnist. Wrote for CanesTime.com, Yahoo! Sports and former BleacherReport featured columnist. Founder of allCanesBlog.com no longer toeing any company line. Launched ItsAUThing.com to deliver a raw, unfiltered and authentic perspective of all things "The U".

Recent Posts

REVAMPED COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF COMPLETELY MISSES THE MARK

If there ever was a modern-day dream season the Miami Hurricanes can almost accept going…

2 weeks ago

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS BIAS AND PERCEPTIONS ROB MIAMI HURRICANES OF DESERVED CHANCE

This began a voice-of-the-fan recap of the Miami Hurricanes' regular season-ending loss at Syracuse; the…

3 weeks ago

OFFENSE CAN’T SAVE MIAMI HURRICANES’ POROUS DEFENSE AT GEORGIA TECH

When you dance with the devil enough, the devil doesn't change—you do. The slow-start offense…

1 month ago

MIAMI HURRICANES LAST ONES STANDING IN SHOOTOUT WITH LOUISVILLE CARDINALS

The Miami Hurricanes won a spirited shootout against the Louisville Cardinals this past Saturday afternoon…

2 months ago

MIAMI HURRICANES OVERCOME 25-POINT DEFICIT; CLAW BACK AGAINST CAL BEARS

"Are you not entertained?!?" Impossible to not channel the legendary Maximus Decimus Meridius in the…

2 months ago

‘U’ PREVIEW: MIAMI HURRICANES HEAD WEST TO BATTLE CAL BEARS

The Miami Hurricanes are off to Berkeley, California for a rare west coast road trip…

3 months ago