No. 11 Miami roars back from 5-run deficit to defeat No. 16 Duke with walk-off HR in 11th
No. 11 Miami, down 8-3, scored five runs in the eighth and ninth innings to tie the score against No. 16 Duke.
But that wasn’t exhilarating enough.
So, catcher Carlos Perez blasted a 2-2 pitch over the right field fence at Mark Light Field for a 2-run, walk-off homer that lifted the Hurricanes to a 10-8 victory Friday night.
Perez, leaping up and down and waving his arms as he rounded the bases, was swarmed by his gleeful teammates as stunned Duke could only watch.
The Canes intended to finish the regular-season strong to possibly win the ACC’s Coastal Division and buoy its case for hosting an NCAA regional when next week’s ACC Tournament concludes. But fellow division member Virginia (43-11, 18-11), which was tied atop the Coastal with Miami (36-18, 17-12 ACC), did what it needed to do by defeating Georgia Tech Thursday and Friday to eliminate UM from the Coastal crown.
However, the victory helped in a big way in the Hurricanes’ quest to be selected as a host site for the regionals. The series and regular season concludes Saturday at The Light, with a 1 p.m. first pitch.
Duke fell to 35-18 and 16-12.
Duke didn’t waste time Friday night to put Miami in a bind. The first four Blue Devils (Alex Mooney, Andrew Fischer, Jay Beshears and Alex Stone ) got hits against University of Miami starter Alejandro Rosario, alternating doubles and singles for a 2-0 lead.
The Canes tied it at 2 in the third on a two-run blast by freshman Blake Cyr for his team-high 15th home run of the season. But Duke’s top hitter, Beashers (3 for 4, 4 RBI), busted open the game with a three-run homer in the fourth to make it 5-2.
UM got another run in the fifth after Edgar Villegas led off with a double and eventually scored on a passed ball, but Duke added three in the sixth for insurance.
UM’s Renzo Gonzalez, who went 3 for 5, hit a 2-RBI single in the ninth to make it 8-8. In the 11th, after pinch-hitter Dorian Gonzalez walked on a full count, Renzo’s sacrific bunt sent Dorian to second before Perez planted his boomer.
Miami’s Rosario, a right-handed junior, was hit by Giovanni DiGiacomo’s hard line drive in the third inning. The ball appeared to hit Rosario’s hip area and third baseman Yohandy Morales got the carom and threw out DiGiacomo for the third out of the inning. Rosario fell to the ground and was in pain. He left the game and did not return.
UM coach Gino DiMare after the game described the injury as a contusion and said Morales would be get x-rays.
UM’s closer Andrew Walters (4-0) entered in the 10th inning and got the victory. He allowed no hits and struck out the side in the 11th.
Duke’s Jason White (2-3) got the loss.
This story was originally published May 19, 2023 at 11:30 PM.
