The Miami Hurricanes did what no one thought possible a week or so ago – advance to their first Super Regional since the Obama administration.
Miami dispatched with Southern Miss on Monday night 5-4, withstanding a late charge by the Golden Eagles in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win.
It was indeed a team effort to win a 5-4 type of game – solid pitching and just enough offense – but the main hat tip has to go to the Canes’ pitching tonight. Reese Lumpkin drew the start and was excellent, allowing 1 run in 3.1 innings. Will Smith spelled him and went 3 innings with 1 ER and 4 Ks. Rob Evans came in and worked a scoreless 0.2 to get Miami out of the seventh. He ran into trouble in the eighth, allowing the first two Eagles to reach base, and J.D. Arteaga went to the bullpen and got his closer for a 6-out save.
Brian Walters proved just barely enough up to the challenge. He allowed a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth that just cleared Max Galvin’s glove over the wall to bring the score to 5-4. However, he got the next hitter to hit a fly ball to left for the final out and a joyous dogpile ensued.
At the plate, Derek Williams’ home run in the second put the Canes up 1-0, a lead they would give up, then regain and gradually grow in the fifth and sixth innings. Jake Ogden split the gap in right center to give Miami a 2-1 lead and come in on a single by Galvin. In the sixth, Dorian Gonzalez, Jr. got one out to right center to push the lead to 4-1. Michael Torres later beat out a chopper in the infield and plated a run to score the Canes’ fifth and final run.
The Canes are now off to Louisville in what’s effectively an extra ACC road series with a trip to the College World Series on the line. The Cardinals won the Nashville regional after beating Wright State, who knocked off top-seeded Vanderbilt.
Let’s hear your thoughts below. Go Canes!