No one said it would be easy…

Get used to the nailbiting.

When you start the College World Series 0-1, elimination is the name of the game and every contest will be sweat out like the National Championship.

The Miami Hurricanes bit the big one against Georgia on Saturday and the consolation prize was a showdown with arch-rival Florida State. The Noles woofed all week about wanting a piece of the Canes and were seeking revenge for the shortened, 11-10 Miami win in game three of the regular season series.

In the other dugout, The U. Still smarting from the loss to the Dawgs, but treating the Noles as just another opponent. There’d be no war of words. Just nine innings of a Sunshine State rivalry, all for a chance to live another day. 

Miami pulled out the 7-5 win, but not without providing yet another scare. Up 7-2 at the top of the ninth, Carlos Gutierrez provided another shaky outing and almost blew another save. Four hits. Three runs. Two walks. Seven batters. 49 pitches. No strikeouts.

Hardly and ace-like performance.

Make no mistake, Gutierrez is a huge reason Miami even made it to Omaha. The closer is responsible for 13 saves this season and Saturday’s errant ninth inning throw was his first error  of sorts.

That said, Gutierrez is giving Miami fans a bit of deja vu regarding all time Canes who have tightened up, with the money on the table in Omaha. So many times has The U trekked west to the College World Series and come home empty-handed. Guys who were all world during the regular season, simply went cold when taking the field at Rosenblatt.

It’s not an indictment on Gutierrez, as several Canes have been a shell of themselves this post season. Bats have gone cold at time. Once stellar fielders have been prone to freshman-like errors. Routine plays have looked more like rocket science than old hat.

Miami stranded nine runners on base against Florida State. That pales in comparison to the record-setting 17 the Noles left behind, but it’s inexcusable nonetheless. Against Georgia, seven were left aboard in the 7-4 loss.

Despite the frustrated tone of this piece, all isn’t lost and some good definitely came out of Monday’s bounce-back game.

Miami ended Florida State’s season, which will never be taken for granted. People will call this a ‘healthy rivalry’ but don’t mistake the fact that there is some bad blood between these squads and the winner would take serious pride in ending the loser’s season prematurely.

Neither the Canes or Noles expected to wind up in loser’s bracket and both teams played a bit tighter than they would have if sporting identical 1-0 records. Elimination was on the line and it showed.

Florida State jumped out early with a 1-0 lead after one and an inning later, knocked starter David Gutierrez out of the game – literally – with a shot to the right bicep. Eric Erickson came in to relieve in the second an held Florida State scoreless over the next two innings.

In the bottom of the third, Miami exploded for four runs and finally blew the tight game open. Yasmani Grandal walked, Blake Tekotte grounded out and Jemile Weeks homered to left.

After a Yonder Alonso fly out, Mark Sobolewski drew a walk, Ryan Jackson singled and Adan Severino was the inning’s third and final free base.

With two outs and a chance to do what they’ve failed to do so many times in the postseason, Miami piled on a few more runs with a Dennis Raben single to center, driving in two.

Florida State got one back in the top of the fourth, but the game remained 4-2 until the bottom of the seventh when two singles and a walk set the stage for a Jason Hagerty two-RBI single. Tekotte added an insurance run in the eight with a solo shot and at 7-2, it appeared to be a Miami lock – or as much of a lock as you can expect with three outs to play in Omaha.

For all the criticism Gutierrez will receive for Monday’s mini-meltdown, the most important stat? The third and final out being recorded before Florida State had a chance to tie or win the game.

End of story.

Solid players have bad outings and great teams are going to look mortal at times. The Canes struggled to put the Noles away, but in the end Miami lives to see another day, while it’s “0 and 2 and a BBQ” for smug Mike Martin and his bitter bunch.

Next up, Stanford – a College World Series underdog who upset Florida State in their opening game, but lost a nailbiter to Georgia on Monday night. For the Canes, another one-game season and a third elimination game in their past four outings.

If Miami can end Stanford’s season on Wednesday night (7:00pm EDT), it’ll be back-to-back contests against Georgia for a crack at the finale. 

For now, one game at a time. One inning at a time. One pitch at a time. 1-1 in Omaha is still daunting, but it’s not impossible.

Miami was ice cold in the ninth against Georgia, but the temperature rose to luke-warm on Monday with a win over Florida State. It can get hot with a win over Stanford, but would need to get scorching to upend Georgia twice and make it to the championship game.

All that said, celebrate this win. The Noles are homebound and the Canes will live to see another day.

Keep the faith.

For one more game, at least.

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