Revamped Miami Hurricanes baseball team’s lineup shows off its potential in season opener
If the University of Miami is to return to Omaha for the first time in six years, it will need much better overall performances than it delivered Friday night against Towson University.
Luckily for the 25th-ranked Hurricanes, a lineup they hoped would produce more runs in 2022 gave a glimpse of its potential during a 10-8 victory over the visiting Tigers in the first of a four-game season-opening series at Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park.
Miami starting pitcher Alejandro Rosario’s season got off to a rocky start as he gave up five earned runs on six hits and one walk over five innings.
The Hurricanes (1-0) also committed three errors, which contributed to the rough outing for the pro prospect from Miami Christian High.
But led by shortstop Dominic Pitelli, who went 4 for 4 with a home run and four RBI, Miami’s bats produced 11 hits including two home runs and six extra base hits overall.
“That’s probably one of the crazier Opening Night games I’ve been a part of, a lot of things happened there,” Hurricanes coach Gino DiMare said. “Obviously, I’m happy to see our offense score runs. If we’re going to be a good team, we’ve got to pick each other up.”
Only two starters in Miami’s lineup on Friday - Pitelli and third baseman Yohandy Morales - were in the team’s starting lineup in last season’s opener in Gainesville.
Pitelli and Jacob Burke each homered and freshman right fielder Lorenzo Carrier recorded his first collegiate hit as a two-out, RBI triple during a five-run sixth inning that put Miami ahead for good.
“We have a lot of new faces in this lineup, but all these guys look like they’ve been here a long time,” Pitelli said. “I think we’re showing what we can do.”
Rosario struggled with command during a four-run fourth inning for Towson (0-1), which gave the Tigers a 6-4 lead. Rosario was able to finish that stressful inning and work through a scoreless finish. He threw 81 pitches overall with 55 for strikes.
“Some of it was poor play from our defense, but they did square up some balls on him,” DiMare said. “His MO is his fastball and it usually has a lot of movement on it, and he’s used it well to both sides of the plate in the fall and spring. He’s going to learn from this.”
Towson led 7-5 heading into the bottom of the sixth when Miami rallied, taking advantage of the Tigers’ own pitching issues.
The Hurricanes drew three consecutive walks to open the inning and Towson reliever Jake Pecilunas hit catcher Maxwell Romero Jr. with a pitch to force in a run. The Hurricanes then took the lead on a pair of fielder’s choice ground outs and added to it on Carrier’s triple and a single by Pitelli.
FIRST LOOKS
Vanderbilt transfer Maxwell Romero Jr., an alum of Pembroke Pines Charter, started at catcher and immediately made an impact. Romero went 2 for 4 with two doubles and two RBI. But Romero also mishandled a bunt and committed one of the Hurricanes’ early errors.
DiMare said earlier this week it would either be Romero or sophomore Carlos Perez behind the plate.
“Max is an offensive guy and has some pop,” DiMare said. “Defensively, he’s still learning. There’s a lot of things involved at catcher that are very hard for a guy in his first year here to pick up and be aware of it. He’s picking it up but has a long way to go.”
As expected, the Hurricanes opened the season with CJ Kayfus, who went 2 for 4, at first base, Pitelli at shortstop and Yohandy Morales at third.
Dorian Gonzalez Jr. got the start at second and finished with a walk and an RBI. DiMare said this week that freshman Henry Wallen was the other potential starter at the position.
The starting outfield consisted of Carrier in right, sophomore Jacoby Long in center and Burke in left. Junior Mike Rosario, who missed nearly all of last season after undergoing surgery, was the designated hitter and recorded his first hit in a Miami uniform.
Sophomore Andrew Walters also made his debut as the Canes’ closer and recorded a perfect ninth inning, striking out two to pick up his first career save.
“I like this new role,” Walters said. “I worked hard for it and I feel like it fits me well.”
Miami returns to action with a doubleheader on Saturday against Towson beginning at 2 p.m. Sophomore lefty Carson Palmquist, the Hurricanes’ closer last season, and sophomore righthander Jake Garland are expected to start.
This story was originally published February 18, 2022 at 10:34 PM.
