Honestly, the storyline is getting tiresome and the recaps, pointless.
Miami is now 3-9 in its last twelve games, including last weekend’s recent home sweep at the hands of No. 22 Virginia. The Canes squeaked past Florida Atlantic, 3-1, last Tuesday and Stetson, the Wednesday before, 3-2, but is now 1-8 in its last three ACC series. Prior to Virginia, Miami was swept at Florida State and dropped two-of-three at Virginia Tech.
Miami was outscored 21-11 this past weekend and had an embarrassing FOURTEEN errors over the three-game series.
The Canes fell 7-3 on Saturday afternoon, up 3-2 entering the top of the sixth, where the Cavaliers posted five runs to go up, 7-3, never looking back. Miami had three errors in that inning and four for the game.
Miami took a 4-0 lead after two on Sunday, but Virginia came right back, picking up a run in both the third and fourth, before a three-run fifth gave the Cavs a 5-4 lead. The Canes had two errors in the fifth and five on the game.
Monday’s finale was more of the same. Five errors and another contest where Miami came up short. Virginia jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three. The Canes got on the board with one in the bottom of the fourth, but a three-run sixth by the Cavs had UM entering the bottom of the ninth down 7-2. Miami picked up two en route to a 7-4 loss and the comeback fell short. UVA also had thirteen hits to UM’s four.
After the sweep in Tallahassee, fourteen games remained and a 10-4 run seemed like a safe bet. Miami gets a three-game series Bethune-Cookman this weekend, welcomes Wake Forest next weekend, takes on Florida Gulf Coast (5/15) and ends the regular season on the road at Georgia Tech.
Based on recent play and the opponents on deck, a 6-4 finish should be expected, putting Miami – currently 27-17 – at 33-21 by season’s end, which would most-likely result in hitting the road for the NCAA Regionals, hosting nothing in the post-season.
Nothing else to say here. Ten games remain before the conference tourney. Let’s see what you’re made of, Miami. Sorry to say, right now it doesn’t look like much. – C.B.