Streak kings! Miami baseball has dramatic comeback, takes over nation’s longest win streak
The University of Miami baseball program now owns the nation’s longest winning streak.
Trailing 6-2, the No. 2 Hurricanes scored five runs in their final two at-bats late Tuesday — the last three runs with two outs — to pull off a dramatic 7-6 comeback thriller against FAU for their 14th consecutive win.
And while the Canes were celebrating, the nation’s No. 1 team, Tennessee (31-2), lost 3-2 to Tennessee Tech on Tuesday night, snapping the Volunteers’ amazing 23-game winning streak for UM to take their place. UM’s 14 consecutive wins represent their longest streak in eight years.
Stellar closer Andrew Walters got his 11th save to preserve his 0.00 ERA and secure the victory at Mark Light Field.
UM raised its record to 27-6 overall. The Canes are 13-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
“Thank God we were able to score five runs in the last two innings to get the victory,’’ UM coach Gino DiMare said. “We battled back. The pitchers that came out of the pen did a great job to hold it over.”
FAU fell to 21-13.
After FAU scored two runs in the first inning, the Canes tied the score in the second on a Zach Levenson RBI-single that scored Jacob Burke (walk), followed by Henry Wallen’s single, a wild pitch and sacrifice fly by Carlos Perez.
But the Owls came back for four more in the sixth on singles by Steven Loden, Tyler Kelder, Jackson Ross and Gabriel Rincones, coupled with two UM throwing errors that gave FAU a 6-2 lead.
UM began its two-inning rally in the seventh with two runs on two hits (CJ Kayfus and Max Romero), a hit batter and an FAU throwing error.
The Hurricanes scored three more in the wild eighth on two walks, a balk, a hit batter, wild pitch, error and infield single by Burke, who outran the throw from third to drive home Yohandy Morales for the winning run.
Canes pitcher JP Gates tossed a third of an inning for his first victory of the season. Robert Wegielnik (2-1) took the loss. UM starter Jake Garland allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits, three walks, two wild pitches and one hit-by-pitch.
“It’s a big win,’’ DiMare said. “It’s a great win, especially after us playing so well over the weekend. Everything we’ve done [has] put ourselves in a good position... It’s all about being a team. The guys found a way to get it done.”
The Canes next travel to Blacksburg, Virginia, for a weekend series against Virginia Tech (21-8, 7-6). The Hokies have won 11 of their past 13 games and are third in the ACC Coastal Division behind UM and Virginia.
This story was originally published April 12, 2022 at 9:49 PM.
