The Miami Hurricanes were in a familiar situation Saturday and a familiar name helped the Canes take the lead for good inside Doak Field at Dail Park.
Christian Del Castillo’s RBI groundout in the top of the eighth gave Miami (4-4, 2-3 ACC) its third and final lead of the day, helping the Hurricanes even the series at NC State (4-5, 1-4 ACC) with a 6-4 victory.
“The season has got so many ups and downs, you’d have to get to the end to see if this is a turning point for us,” head coach Gino DiMare said. “We certainly hope it is in a positive manner because that means the rest of the season is going to go well and we’ve learned and we’ve grown and we’ve matured. Bottom line is it’s one game. It feels a lot better because we played a lot better than yesterday, but we’ve got to be ready to play tomorrow. This means nothing if we come out and don’t play well tomorrow.”
With the game tied at 4, Yohandy Morales led off the top of the eighth with a ground-rule double to right. The true freshman advanced to third on a wild pitch and Miami had runners at the corners when lefty Canaan Smith walked Alex Toral with one out in the inning.
After an incredible play by first baseman Austin Murr to retire Del Castillo, Morales evaded the tag at the plate to snap the stalemate and out Miami ahead, 5-4.
“I was just staying confident up in the box, trying to hit the ball hard,” Del Castillo said. “I was pumped up when I saw Yoyo scored. That was a huge run to get ahead and brought some more energy to the team.”
Miami turned to closer Carson Palmquist to protect the one-run lead and the lefty pitched out of a jam, stranding a pair of base runners after snaring a J.T. Jarrett line drive up the middle to end the eighth.
“I’m just going out there and being confident and believing in myself and the eight other guys on the field with me,” Palmquist said. “It was a huge win for us. We were down bad yesterday and this team battled back We never call it quits and that showed today.”
True freshman CJ Kayfus picked a great time to get his first career hit, smoking a leadoff solo homer to left-center off Wolfpack reliever Dalton Feeney that gave the Hurricanes some breathing room, 6-4, and Palmquist retired the side in order to earn his third save of the season.
“I was trying to stay within myself and let everything happen on its own,” Kayfus said. “I was planning on attacking early on in the at-bat, so I got excited seeing the first pitch fastball. After hitting it I thought, ‘This might have a chance to get out’ and it did.”
Much like Friday’s series opener, Jordan Lala led off the game with a hit-by-pitch and came around to score to get the Hurricanes on the scoreboard in the first inning for the sixth consecutive game. After Lala scored on a Morales groundout, Adrian Del Castillo had an RBI single to right that sent home Anthony Vilar to make it 2-0 in favor of the Hurricanes.
“Yoyo is hitting in an obviously important spot for us there in the three hole,” DiMare said. “That was a big at-bat where he battled and it went to two strikes there and he put the ball in play up the middle, and it not only knocked in the run but it moved the runner over for Del coming up and then he gets the line drive hit. That was great situational hitting, good job by the guys in front of them to get on base. We’ve been great out of the gate in the first inning. I wish we could duplicate the first inning every inning, that’d be great.”
“I thought Jake did a solid job,” DiMare said. “He should have gotten out of the inning there. He got the ground ball for a double play. Anthony [Arguelles] did a great job because he’s had a couple iffy outings and that was a great job to come out and do that. That’s what we need from those guys. Let’s see if we can get some consistency. The whole thing in our sport is being consistent, get a consistent team out there that can play every day and be consistent.”
Miami and NC State will close out the weekend series Sunday, beginning at 1 p.m. True freshman Victor Mederos will make his third collegiate start for the Canes opposite NC State right-hander Matt Willadsen.
From hurricanesports.com. Read more there on UM baseball.
Sometimes even the strongest amongst us needs some shelter from life's storms. Today, our good friend VA Cane needs that and more. Now here he is, coming to you, in his own words, in his time of need...
Since you all are family, I mean that, let me share a little about my family. February has become a tough month for me over time. Good things, and challenging things.
My Dad's Birthday was Valentines Day. He was my hero, so Sunday thinking of him being gone was tough. The 15th, my son turned 26. He's the apple of my eye, my son I pass the torch to and a great kid!
The 18th my Mom will have been gone 2 years. She was the smartest person I have ever known. You could never fool that woman and she was very special to me. So, that's a start I prepared for this February.
But it gets tougher, much tougher. Friday night. my niece Tabatha Ann was murdered in her home by her live in of 10 years in front of a 5 and 7 year old. Never had something that tragic that close...man would never fight another man, then beats her to death in front of their children. I have to write the articles, preach the funeral.
My 3 week old granddaughter, 3rd one behind Kensley and Lillian, her name is Elizabeth Ray, we call her Lizzy Ray, was ill during east coast ice storm. Went to the doctor yesterday, breathing problems, mucous, showing signs of cystic fibrosis. So folks, the VAC has a very full agenda, and as always everybody looks to me for answers, faith, leadership, poise. Not always easy with the regular stuff of the job, February thoughts, and murder and serious illness on top of it.
And we lost my mother in law in July to Alzhimers, so if I seem a little edgy, I dont feel bad, and was not trying to be a negative nancy, but you have some insight as to why!
You know old VAC, at one time. Long ago, the smallest starting corner in the nation in the 70s. Now the patriarch of a family,and while challenged with issues way more pressing than the field, will always be there for all. In the mix for the championships of the game calle Life!!!
I always advise people a simple saying: Let Go Let God. It works folks, cause Faith is what you have when there is nothing left to hang onto! Thanks for the time and will keep you all advised.
Please pray for my niece and granddaughter. I know you all will!
God bless all of you!
https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/henrico-murder-suspect-faced-more-than-a-dozen-domestic-violence-charges-over-the-last-year