Sophomore Anthony Vilar follows through on a hit in Miami s win over Appalachian State on Sunday May 9 at Mark Light Field. Vilar registered one hit, two walks, and scored three times in the Canes 10-2 victory on Sunday. Photo credit: Josh Halper
On Sunday afternoon, the only Hurricanes to pass through Mark Light Field were donning pink uniforms in honor of Mother’s Day, but May showers drenched Coral Gables shortly after the series finale between UM and Appalachian State had begun.
Inclement weather in the area early in the ballgame forced an unusual, strange set of circumstances for the Hurricanes and the Mountaineers. The two were scheduled for a start time of 1 p.m. and were able to complete a full inning of baseball before the game was delayed for nearly two and a half hours.
Freshman third baseman Yohandy Morales bats during Miami s 16-1 win over Appalachian State on May 8 at Mark Light Field. Photo credit: Tessa Mortensen
Hurricanes right-handed pitcher Jake Smith took the mound against Appalachian State on Saturday hoping to help lead his team to its first series win in three weeks.
After having garnered his first win as a Hurricane versus Florida Gulf Coast on April 27, the junior college transfer picked up where he left off, striking out six batters while allowing only two hits.
Backing him up was a lineup that came out swinging, as Miami (26-15, 15-14 Atlantic Coast Conference) sparked a 10-run second inning to run away with the ball game 16-1 at Mark Light Field.
Christian Del Castillo bats during Miami s game against Appalachian State on May 7 at Mark Light Field. Photo credit: Michael Mok
It was a sloppy game played through sloppy weather, but the Miami Hurricanes collected a much-needed win Friday night over the Appalachian State Mountaineers.
A mundane, RBI groundout by Adrian Del Castillo in the eighth inning both personified the evening and effectively clinched UM’s 4-2 series-opening victory.
The Canes (25-15, 15-14 ACC) hit just .185 overall. They improved to 10-1 in non-conference games while remaining perfect against mid-major opponents.
“Pleased we got the win,” said Miami head coach Gino DiMare. “But know we are still trying to get this where we can play better baseball all the way around, and we need to.”
Alex Toral awaits a throw to first base as a BC player runs to first base. The Canes lost the series 2-1 to the Eagles. Photo credit: John Quackenbos/BC Athletics
The Boston College Eagles welcomed the Hurricanes to the Harrington Athletics Village on Friday night and gave them a rude awakening, blowing them out 13-0 in what proved to be an uncharacteristic loss for Miami.
However, the Canes bounced back in Saturday afternoon’s action to even the series with a tightly contested battle that favored UM with a final score of 2-1.
Miami’s win was strongly backed by a strong, steady start from pitcher Alex McFarlane, who did what no other Hurricane was able to do Friday night: keep the Eagles off the scoreboard.
Anthony Vilar attempts to catch the baseball at second base while a Boston College slides into the base. The Hurricanes lost 13-0 in Chestnut Hill on April 30. Photo credit: John Quackenbos/BC Athletics
The Hurricanes gave up seven two-out runs in the first two innings Friday night at Boston College as they dropped a suspense-free Game 1 in the three-game series opener.
And while it looked bad from the start, it got worse as the matchup continued. Boston College’s bats were merciless, hanging crooked numbers in the first, second and seventh innings as they beat Miami 13-0.
The Canes mustered a measly two hits. After Anthony Vilar’s first inning double, nobody logged another base hit until Christian Del Castillo in the ninth.