Sophomore left fielder Jacob Heyward etched his name into Miami’s illustrious postseason history Monday, as he powered the Hurricanes to a 4-3 victory over Arkansas in an elimination game at the 2015 College World Series.
The team’s nine-hole hitter connected on a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth, sending his teammates into a frenzied celebration and extending the Hurricanes’ season at least until Wednesday night.
LISTEN: Jacob Heyward's game winner
Heyward added a two-run home run in a 3-for-3, three-RBI performance, clinching Miami's 20th 50-win season in history and first such year since 2008.
When the hero was introduced in his postgame press conference at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, head coach Jim Morris was quick to correct the moderator on his sophomore’s new moniker.
“That would be Mr. Heyward,” Morris joked. “Goodness gracious. He had an unbelievable day from the two-run homer to everything.”
Heyward, who has started the past 15 games in left field after serving as a late defensive replacement for the majority of the regular season, reached base four times, none more important than his game-winning single to center off top Arkansas reliever Zach Jackson.
“It's a blessing to be here at the College World Series with my teammates, and just playing hard for my teammates,” Heyward said. “I wasn't playing the start of the year and I just appreciate Coach [Morris] for having faith in me and all my teammates having faith in me.”
Morris recalled a conversation with Heyward earlier in the season that resonated after the game.
“I called him in just to talk to him and make sure that he understood I still believed in him, to keep his head up because he wasn't playing,” Morris said. “And his response was, ‘You don't worry about me, Coach.’
“He said, ‘I'll be there to play when you call my name.’”
Heyward held true to his word, leading Miami to its first CWS win since 2008. His RBI single in the ninth scored pinch runner Carl Chester, who entered after sophomore Willie Abreu opened the inning with a double.
“I've been missing workouts, honestly,” Abreu said with a smile when asked if he thought his double might clear the fence. “No, I'm kidding…I feel like I just wanted to get a good swing on the ball, be able to get on base and be able to do something for my team.
The two teams traded runs in the late innings, with Miami jumping out to leads of 2-0 and 3-2. Arkansas tied the game on both occasions, and threatened to go ahead in the ninth before Bryan Garcia (6-2) shut the door on a bases-loaded situation.
“I want to congratulate Arkansas on their season. They did a great job every inning coming back…kept answering back,” Morris said. “That's a credit to a good team. They kept battling. You could see why they won and why they're in the World Series.”
The win propels the Hurricanes to face off once again against the Florida Gators tonight at 8 PM on ESPN. Here's the deal, U guys bring the beer and the brats, RaizeCane and I will bring the babes!
@DavidFurones90: Exclusive 1-on-1 2018 UM commit AJ Blades (@AlBlades_Jr) https://t.co/pdw0BXf9f3 http://t.co/Rm0FS79Xj2 @AndreMHsports @Manny_Navarro
Posted by: Go Canes | June 18, 2015 at 02:44 PM
Go Brad lead.....he is similar to KD in many ways. Good player good leader wants to lead and win. We have not had qb like him since KD. He stands out in a positive way.
I have come to despise Stephen A Smith and Skip Bayless....still arguing they say debate about Lebron, NBA etc....over and over gets old. I think they are married....their tired old schtick needs to be cancelled. Poor show wasted air time.
How about NYC cops searching that guys apartment and finding a script for viagra written to Al Sharpton? What a wonderful guy. Can go to the white house not pay taxes agitate destruction and lies, be a fake preacher.....with a 4 hour plus erection! MLK would definitely slap his dumb old ass!
Posted by: VA CANE | June 18, 2015 at 10:23 AM
@mattyports: [new story] A summer chat with Brad Kaaya, emerging as the Hurricanes' face of the franchise: http://t.co/JWWdrPCZdY http://t.co/2eYxFTkYNv
Posted by: Go Canes | June 18, 2015 at 06:39 AM
Pitching has been sketchy and inconsistent all postseason, clearly being a weak point of this team when looking at the pitching of many other CWS teams. Hitting was thought to be a huge strength all season, but has been suspect for more of the post-season, as well (? slumping vs. simply not as good as hoped when hitting against better pitching).
Oh, well. Nothing I hate more than losing to FU. However, it was still a top 6 finish, in spite of showing glaring weaknesses. Only reason for me to follow the CWS now is to pull for my next favorite team, which I think is UVa right now (team playing FU).
Disappointed, but life's too short. Night all.
Posted by: JCane | June 17, 2015 at 11:10 PM
Rough outing for our guys. Sometimes that's the way it goes. Despise UF but they have been better. Sad but true.
Posted by: VA CANE | June 17, 2015 at 11:04 PM
Seriously?
Posted by: 86Cane | June 17, 2015 at 10:28 PM
Not Kidding!
Posted by: 86Cane | June 17, 2015 at 10:05 PM
#TotalSuckage
Posted by: 86Cane | June 17, 2015 at 10:05 PM
Just kidding!
Posted by: 86Cane | June 17, 2015 at 10:05 PM
#FireMorris
Posted by: 86Cane | June 17, 2015 at 10:04 PM
This MUST be D'Onofrio's fault somehow, right?
Posted by: 86Cane | June 17, 2015 at 10:04 PM
CAN'T STOMACH THIS ANYMORE. MUST BE THE GATOR BACTERIA COMING THROUGH THE TV THROUGH OSMOSIS.
HOPE YOU AND THE MRS. HAD A NICE WEEK AWAY 86. PLEASE GIVE HER MY BEST, AND TO YOU TOO, 86.
Posted by: MaryLouAlumni | June 17, 2015 at 10:00 PM
Sigh!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | June 17, 2015 at 09:55 PM
Nice (meaningless) regular season. Nice egg laid in the postseason. This has been status quo for cane everything the past 13 years. My children will never know The U. They will only know it as the Miami that isn't in Ohio.
Posted by: BEERicane | June 17, 2015 at 09:47 PM
this is embarrassing..goldenitis
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | June 17, 2015 at 09:40 PM
That hit to 3rd was foul! SMH
Posted by: NativeCane | June 17, 2015 at 09:35 PM
Ive had breathalizer readings higher than the Canes CWS batting average.
Posted by: NativeCane | June 17, 2015 at 09:34 PM
Morris post-season baseball looks an awful lot like Golden bowl-game football.
Posted by: BEERicane | June 17, 2015 at 09:29 PM
Fire Morris
Posted by: BEERicane | June 17, 2015 at 09:28 PM
This team is awful. It's like they've never taken an at bat before.
Posted by: BEERicane | June 17, 2015 at 09:28 PM
Canes strand 2 more head to top of the 5th.
3-0
Posted by: NativeCane | June 17, 2015 at 09:26 PM
Just like that our line drives have been hit right at their infielders ..its crazy ...gawd i hate the turds
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | June 17, 2015 at 09:07 PM
Same thing happened to us in the first one..we were not hitting the ball in the gaps..for some reason when we hit the ball is right at their fielders...
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | June 17, 2015 at 09:05 PM
Canes leave 2 stranded but get out of the 2nd with no more damage.
3-0
Posted by: NativeCane | June 17, 2015 at 08:55 PM
Thompson better stay another year and work on hitting a curve. No way in hell he make it in the majors if he doesn't.
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | June 17, 2015 at 08:46 PM
I think this radar gun is broken, there is no way a team can hit a guy this good when he's pitching 94. Majors yes, but not college kids.
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | June 17, 2015 at 08:42 PM
The pitcher that shut the turds down the other nite was throwing a slider that was dropping out of he strike zone...the ball was moving so much they couldnt hit it.
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | June 17, 2015 at 08:42 PM
So Miami, what you are saying is they have better pitchers in every regard.
: )
Posted by: BEERicane | June 17, 2015 at 08:35 PM
What looks different from some of these other teams ive been watching is that our pitchers dont throw hard enough and when they leave it a little high over the plate we get toasted. Another thing is that some of these other pitchers have more movement on the ball.
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | June 17, 2015 at 08:32 PM
If I was Morris, I would have Heyward at the top of the order.....the kid needs more at bats
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | June 17, 2015 at 08:29 PM
Wow. Trotting the ace Suarez out there. That move just smells of desperation,
Posted by: BEERicane | June 17, 2015 at 08:28 PM
We need to get through the top of the second with no damage done. Another run or 2, this game is out of reach. Turd has some nice movement on his pitches today tongi with good command.
Posted by: BEERicane | June 17, 2015 at 08:26 PM
Dang! Must be the birdsh!t ball caps!
Posted by: NativeCane | June 17, 2015 at 08:26 PM
I wish. #FireMorris
Posted by: BEERicane | June 17, 2015 at 08:25 PM
This team can't hit curve balls!!!!
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | June 17, 2015 at 08:24 PM
Beer, U got some voodoo to fling on this game?
Posted by: NativeCane | June 17, 2015 at 08:22 PM
Looks like I'm going to be shutting this game off early
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | June 17, 2015 at 08:22 PM
We got screwed by noodle arms who throw in the mid-90s and leave them out over the fat part of the plate. #BP
Posted by: BEERicane | June 17, 2015 at 08:22 PM
Well, got screwed by the umps again. Instead of called 3rd strike, (no way that was a ball) the batter hits the next pitch out. We should of been out of that inning with 1 run
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | June 17, 2015 at 08:20 PM
its obvious that Sosa s pitches dont have enough speed on the ball...they are winding up before they swing...lol
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | June 17, 2015 at 08:18 PM
Sosa is a mediocre HS pitcher.
Posted by: BEERicane | June 17, 2015 at 08:16 PM
In all seriousness, the idea of eating gator meet makes me sick to my stomach every time I see a slimy gator, he's in some filthy, scummy, algae and bacteria infested stagnant pond, or other nasty body of water. They are so full of bacteria.
There was a guy a few years ago they got bit I think somewhere out near Sanibel, but the bite didn't kill him, the guy died of a horrible infection because gators are full of the worst kind of bacteria it's all over and inside them. That's why I can't stomach the thought of eating it, although people offered it to me more than once, especially the tailgate before we played them in football a couple years ago. Everybody says it taste good, but I can't get over the thought.
Posted by: Lur-ker | June 17, 2015 at 07:22 PM
GO CANES! COULD NEVER STOMACH EATING GATOR MEAT, BUT WILL RELISH MAKING THEM GATOR GOULASH TONIGHT! HIT IT WITH SOME SEASONING!
Posted by: ML Alumni1970. | June 17, 2015 at 06:53 PM
LOVE THIS!!!
Posted by: 86Cane | June 17, 2015 at 06:56 PM
I despise the gators like all real CANES do, but after the sickening loss to them last week, I hope we sock it to them tonight! Can't wait!
Home last night from FLA to MICHIGAN. RAINY AND DREARY, but a win tonight will make it all great.
GO CANES! COULD NEVER STOMACH EATING GATOR MEAT, BUT WILL RELISH MAKING THEM GATOR GOULASH TONIGHT! HIT IT WITH SOME SEASONING!
Posted by: ML Alumni1970. | June 17, 2015 at 06:53 PM
Posted by: 86Cane | June 17, 2015 at 05:13 PM
Maybe! LMAO
Posted by: WWIN | June 17, 2015 at 05:29 PM
I gotta give Golden credit... his recruiting game is SAF right!!!
Is Nevin back out? LOL
Posted by: WWIN | June 17, 2015 at 04:38 PM
Nah, but the Nashville thing could be in swing? LMAO!
Posted by: 86Cane | June 17, 2015 at 05:13 PM
Send the Gators back to their swamp & keep our dream alive!
Posted by: VfB_Cane | June 17, 2015 at 05:13 PM
I smell burnt gator on the menu for Weds night.
Posted by: YooperCane | June 17, 2015 at 05:10 PM
Go Canes!
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | June 17, 2015 at 05:10 PM
Go canes
Posted by: YooperCane | June 17, 2015 at 05:08 PM