No. 11 Miami wins fifth in row, run rules FIU to stay in contention to host NCAA regional
The 11th-ranked Miami Hurricanes took their time getting started Wednesday night against the neighboring FIU Panthers, producing two hits through the first five innings.
Finally, in the sixth, Miami pounded out five runs on four hits, then added five runs on five hits in the seventh to take a 10-0 victory after the 10-run rule was enforced — though no one but the head coaches and umpires knew it as players suddenly shook hands and exited Mark Light Field.
“I apologize,’’ UM coach Gino DiMare said to reporters in the post-game news conference. “I forgot to tell everybody the 10-run rule was put into effect at the umpires meeting. I didn’t tell anybody.”
Miami (32-16), on a five-game winning streak, has won seven of its last eight games. The Canes are now 26-4 at home — the best UM home record since 2015. With seven games left in the regular season, Miami needs to keep winning to ensure host status for the NCAA regionals that run June 2-5.
D1Baseball.com on Wednesday projected UM would host an NCAA regional as the overall No. 13 seed.
DiMare said his team is improving and hopes its best ball is yet to come. But Wednesday he was only concerned about FIU. The Panthers, who have won only two road games this season, fell to 18-30.
“I think nine of our 11 hits were in the last two innings,’’ DiMare said. “ Everything happened so fast.
“...We were really sluggish. So, how did we win the game? We won the game in two innings. I’ve seen games won in one inning. ...Baseball is a funny game. We’re going into the sixth and it’s a 0-0 game and you’re like, ‘My goodness, this is probably going to be a low scoring, close game. We’re going to have to probably bring in [closer Andrew] Walters.’
“And then, I don’t know, 30 minutes later it’s 10-nothing and the game is over.”
The Hurricanes were led by Blake Cyr’s three hits, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored, with Yohandy Morales adding three hits and two runs scored. Carlos Perez, CJ Kayfus and Lorenzo Carrier each had 2 RBI.
Home run leader Cyr, with 13 previously this season, now also leads the Canes with 49 RBI.
Miami reliever Ben Chestnutt (7-0, 4.78 ERA) allowed no hits, no runs and no walks in three innings for the win. He struck out four and retired all nine batters he faced.
Panthers starting right-handed pitcher Joel Pineiro, the first of six FIU hurlers, allowed one hit and a walk in two innings, striking out three and throwing two wild pitches. Cameron Knox took the loss.
The Panthers threatened with one out in the top of the third when Craig Palidar singled to right and Roylan Quevedo’s ground-rule double sent Palidar to third. But the threat was averted after Mike Rosario lined to second for the second out and Dante Girarde — son of former Marlins, Yankees and Phillies manager Joe Girardi — struck out swinging.
The Hurricanes travel to Pittsburgh to face the Panthers for a three-game weekend series that begins at 6 p.m. Friday (ACC Network Extra), continues 3 p.m. Saturday (ACC Network Extra) and concludes at noon Sunday (ACC Network).
After that, it’s UM’s final midweek game Tuesday at FIU, then a three-game home series against Duke (33-14) on Thursday, May 18, through Saturday, May 20, to close out the regular season.
The Atlantic Coast Conference tournament runs May 23-28 in Durham, North Carolina.
This story was originally published May 10, 2023 at 9:23 PM.
