The University of Miami baseball team ran straight into a strong head wind and a tough University of Arizona squad last night at Mark light Stadium, falling to the Wildcats 6-3 in a game one of the Super Regional Tournament. The extra inning battle was a test of nerves for the coaches, players and the sell out crowd packed into The Light on a breezy Friday night in lovely Coral Gables.
The Hurricanes blew (no pun intended) several chances to win the game and even blow it open (pun intended) by hitting several long balls right into the stiff breeze blowing in from right-center field. There were three or four monster shots hit by different Cane sluggers that went 398 feet to straight away center field. Trouble is, the fence measures a neat and tidy 400 feet in dead center and all of the balls were caught on the warning track by the busy UA center fielder.
The result was that the Canes left 12 runners stranded on the night and most of them in scoring position. The Canes 1-5 batters did almost nothing to dent the Wildcat's pitching or pride. That led to Arizona gaining their confidence and the big mo' and eventually pulling the 3-3 game out in the 11th inning on a three run, line drive blast to right field against Canes closer and recent MLB first round draft pick David Gutierrez. The Canes will try again tonight at 7:30 PM (ESPN) with Erickson on the mound for Miami.
We also wanted to mention that during the first and second inning Canes fans were still trying to get into the stadium but were turned away. Some of these resourceful fans fled to the multi-level parking garage behind right field to try to get a view of their diamond heros. At one point there were about 30-50 fans packed on various levels and even the stairwells. That was of course until the UM Athletic Department decided to ask the "boys in blue" (CGPD) to run them off.
If there ever was a WRONG thing to do that was it! How do you run away fans desperate to catch a glimpse of their team? In a town where the Marlins struggle to draw 5,000 disinterested fans for MLB game you just can't do that, can you? Well at least when the renovations are done (thanks to ARod's generous donation) that will NOT happen again!
Oh, and one more thing that nobody mentioned on the blog: The ACC was 0-3 in games yesterday with UM, NCST and FSU all losing in their Super Regional games. Go Canes, Go ACC!!!
errors..pitching in the dirt..leaving men on base..not typical
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 08:02 PM
Erikson really makes me nervous and I am sure hope we have some heart or canes will be swept!
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 08:04 PM
WHERE'S THE FIRE?
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 08:04 PM
4-0...it.s slipping away
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 08:05 PM
yeah MH no sense of urgency! Not sure how they handle this, well we will see what they are made of.
Go Canes!
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 08:06 PM
they're hitting the ball against erikson...finally..top of 3rd
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 08:07 PM
Gotta get some runs or this will be over!
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 08:09 PM
he looks like hugh heffner...old version.
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 08:09 PM
again..lead off man on base...come on
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 08:10 PM
DO we swing with our bats????????
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 08:12 PM
Wow have we even seen pitching all season???
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 08:14 PM
it looks like we're swing up..bottom of 3rd
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 08:16 PM
MY,My,MY! Where is everybody??
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 08:20 PM
THAT IS THEY WAY IT IS Supposed to happen. NOW LET's HITTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 08:22 PM
come on yonda
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 08:26 PM
you think these guys are affected by the draft?
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 08:28 PM
Yes MH very much so, with no focus!
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 08:31 PM
we.re sitting on strikes and swinging at shyt
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 08:32 PM
FINALLY!
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 08:33 PM
yes..4-1..clutch
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 08:33 PM
That sure stunk!!
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 08:38 PM
Let's go CANES!!!! For anyone posted updates much appreciate...I'm stuck @ a wedding.
Posted by: cnzfnzfanPA | June 07, 2008 at 08:41 PM
Let's go CANES!!!! For anyone posted updates much appreciate...I'm stuck @ a wedding.
Posted by: cnzfnzfanPA | June 07, 2008 at 08:41 PM
4-1 AZ!
Bottom of third 1 out
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 08:43 PM
Bottom of third 2 out
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 08:44 PM
4th..
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 08:44 PM
Going to the top of the 4th Canes up to bat!! Let's get some hits???
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 08:45 PM
the wind gods are not on our side
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 08:50 PM
MH we really need the baseball gods with us tonight! I think they are stronger then the wind gods??
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 08:51 PM
a one run game......
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 08:52 PM
Alrigt Baseball has been bery bery good to me???
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 08:52 PM
almost went foul
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 08:52 PM
Okay it is top of 4th no outs score is 4-3 AZ
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 08:54 PM
big mo
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 08:58 PM
Runners on 3rd and 1st with Weeks up to bat still top of 4th
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 08:58 PM
1 out
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 08:59 PM
I would have weeks bunt
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 08:59 PM
YES!!
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 09:01 PM
ONE hit gets a run!!! yes 4-4 base hit by Weeks 1 out top of 4th
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 09:02 PM
He was sitting on that baby..
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 09:06 PM
That is how I like It! BASEBALL HAS BEEN BERY BERY BERY GOOD TO YONDER
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 09:06 PM
7-4? Shweet. I can't believe espn is showing me Irvine beating LSU by nine instead.
Posted by: dj moonbat | June 07, 2008 at 09:06 PM
HOMERUN..7-4 Canes
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 09:06 PM
we could of blown it wide open, but good inning guys
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 09:20 PM
not to give him bad luck, but erickson has settled.
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 09:22 PM
and then he walks him...
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 09:24 PM
What inning guys?.. still 7-4 still ZIs
Posted by: cnzfnzfanPA | June 07, 2008 at 09:27 PM
What inning guys?.. still 7-4 still ZIs
Posted by: cnzfnzfanPA | June 07, 2008 at 09:27 PM
gettin worried, mh
Posted by: canechic | June 07, 2008 at 09:28 PM
Balk..7-5..arizona threatening...
Posted by: M.H. | June 07, 2008 at 09:29 PM