Miami Drops Two-Of-Three At Clemson

The Canes took their show to Clemson, SC this past weekend and returned home dropping two-of-three. Miami took the series finale, 4-2 on Sunday, but only after dropping a pair of 3-1 losses on Friday and Saturday nights.

Game One featured Eric Erickson on the mound for Miami, with Clemson striking first . A single to centerfield led off the action, but an Erickson balk moved Steve Wilkerson to second. Erickson struck out the next batter, while Stephen Perez turned a stellar play, getting Richie Shaffer out at first. A batter later, Phil Pohl fired a shot back at the mound, which plated Wilkerson and gave the Tigers the 1-0 lead.

Miami responded in the top of the second when Perez singled to right and eventually scored after a balk and Jarred Mederos ground out and RBI.

Unfortunately that was all the Canes had in the tank offensively, remaining scoreless and missing opportunities the next seven innings. Miami drew five walks of of starter Kyle Brady, who left after four innings and ninety-five pitches. After two consecutive fourth inning walks, Jack Campbell relieved Brady and quickly struck out Tyler Palmer, before forcing a weak ground out from Dale Carey, ending UM’s attempt at a run.

The game remained locked at 1-1 until the bottom of the sixth Miami tightened up and Clemson got the go-ahead score. After a one-two-three top of the inning for the Canes, the Tigers capitalized on a fielding error, a ground out, a hit batter and stolen base and a double, en route to a two-run bottom half of the inning. Miami finished the day with four hits, four errors and had thirteen batters seated due to strike outs.

Saturday was more of the same. Not enough clutch hits, too many errors (three) and one run to the other guys’ three.

Clemson got on the board in the second when a Tyler Slaton bloop to left popped out of the glove of Rony Rodriguez, scoring catcher Spencer Kieboom, who reached on a earlier single.

Eric Whaley took his 0.44 ERA into game two of this series. He lasted six and two-thirds, allowing eight hits and striking out three over the course of eighty-six pitches.

Miami’s lone run came in the bottom of the fourth after Perez walked and stole second. Brad Feiger singled to left and took off for second when Perez appeared to round third for home and the outfielder fired home. Kieboom then fired to second, overshot the infield and wound up giving Perez a clear path home.

Again, it was all the Canes could muster and again, the Tigers struck late, this time with a two-run bottom of the sixth. A two-out double from Shaffer drove in two runs, put Clemson up 3-1. Miami ended the day with seven hits and none for extra bases, despite head coach Jim Morris attempting to shake up the line up.

Thankfully the Canes avoided the sweep on Sunday, responding with a 4-2 victory. The Tigers again took an early 1-0 lead after one. Miami tied it with a one-run fourth and that was the way things stayed until the bottom of the sixth when Clemson went ahead, 2-1.

The Tigers belted back-to-back singles and had runners on the corners with no outs. After allowing a RBI single up the middle, starting pitcher Steven Ewing made a heads-up throw to third, picking off a base runner. Garrett Kennedy then caught another baserunner between first and second. Miami looked to be in business, having only given up a run, but after walking the next two batters, Ewing was replaced by Adam Sargent.

Sargent gave up a grounder that loaded the bases and was replaced by AJ Salcines, who forced a pop-up for the inning’s third out. From there, Miami’s offense woke up in the top of the seventh and put the game away.

Chantz Mack started the action with a single, followed up by another from Michael Broad, which put runners at first and second, while prompting a pitching change. From there, Esteban Tresgallo struck out swinging and Julian Santos grounded out, while advancing Broad and Mack to second and third, respectively, forcing another pitching change. Carey then doubled, drove in two and forced another pitching change. Peter O’Brien then grounded out to end the inning, with Miami leading, 4-2.

For those who missed this morning’s Canes Fix with our Brian ‘The Beast’ London, he touched on some of this team’s issues, which have been the case all season; spotty defense and a bullpen that isn’t taking care of business.

Miami now has forty-seven errors on the year and a 957 fielding percentage – two things Coach Morris stated as his biggest fears before the season began. When the Canes play mistake-free ball and the bullpen does its job, sky is the limit for this team. When things unravel, so it goes.

Miami had one error on Sunday to Clemson’s four. On Saturday it was the Canes’ three errors to the Tigers one and on Friday, four UM errors to CU’s one. On the season, Tresgallo now has eight errors on the season while Perez has eleven and when you’re looking for the little things that make a difference in two-run losses, look no further.

Everyone on this team needs to pull their weight and when your pitching staff only gives up three runs a piece in back-to-back games, as the number eight team in the country, you need to muster up more run support offensively, while taking care of business on the defensive side of things, as well.

Still a lot of baseball to be played this season, but with April upon us, Miami needs to clean up the mental errors as the post-season will be here before anyone blinks.

Next up for the now 21-7 Canes, a Wednesday home showdown against Central Florida before a weekend home stand against North Carolina. Next Wednesday, another Wednesday night home game against Florida Gulf Coast, before hitting the road for an ACC showdown at Virginia Tech.

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