Could the unthinkable really happen? After a 47-8 regular season and a top-seeding in the opening round of the NCAAs, were the Miami Hurricanes really going to get tagged in the nose by a four-seed?
Bethune-Cookman is no joke. Miami knew that, which was much of the reason the #1 seed was miffed to draw such a tough opening round match up and bracket. The Wildcats were boasting Hiram Burgos on the mound and his 1.20 ERA. Hardly the cakewalk you’d expect top-ranked Miami to face in an opener.
“I don’t think I’ve been as nervous all year as I was today,” said Miami coach Jim Morris. “They can run; they swing at first pitches and play hard. They have an outstanding club.”
And why shouldn’t the Canes have been worried? An opening round loss to what Morris called “the best fourth seed in the nation” would’ve have been an enormous setback to The U. Clawing your way out of the loser’s bracket, is doable – but it no small feat. You blow through your pitching and the pressure remains on as you’re one loss away from your season coming to an end.
For Miami to not even reach the Super Regional would absolutely make this season a colossal failure for a bunch who set its sights on Omaha and winning the whole damn thing.
Bethune-Cookman provided a big time scare, going up 2-0 in the second inning and then scoring two more in the sixth to tie it up 4-4, taking back a lead the Canes held for a mere two innings.
Yasmani Grandal drove home Dave DiNatale in the bottom of the sixth to put Miami ahead for good, and Blake Tekotte provided two more insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh. A breakdown in the Wildcats’ pitching proved to be the difference maker after Ryan Jackson was hit by a pitch and advanced a batter later on a passed ball. DiNatale walked and a batter later Adam Severino got a free pass as well.
With the bases loaded, a full count and two outs, Tekotte provided the spark the Canes needed with a base hit blooper too center, driving in two as Bethune-Cookman outfielders were playing deep and respecting the Miami bats.
The Canes pitching tightened up, closing out the Wildcats the final three innings. Enrique Garcia got roughed up little bit early, giving up 7 hits and was responsible for all 4 runs, before giving way to Kyle Bellamy, who pitched 2.1 innings, gave up 3 hits and had 3 strikeouts. From there, Carlos Gutierrez closed things out, giving up 1 hit in 1 inning and struck out two.
Next up for the breathing-easier Canes, a 4pm ET Saturday showdown with Missouri, while Ole Miss and Bethune-Cookman battle it out in the losers bracket. The Miami/Missouri loser faces the Ole Miss/Bethune Cookman winner, while the Canes/Tigers winner remains in the driver’s seat and will be the team to beat in the Coral Gables regional.