The Miami Hurricanes are going back to the College World Series.
For the first time since 2008 and for the 24th time in program history, the Hurricanes will make the trip to Omaha, Nebraska as one of the final eight teams remaining in the 2015 NCAA Baseball Championship.
No. 5 national seed Miami, who won its super regional opener 3-2 Friday at Mark Light Field, toppled VCU 10-3 Saturday afternoon to become the first team to punch its ticket to the “Promised Land” of college baseball.
The College World Series appearance will mark the 12th for head coach Jim Morris in his 22 seasons at the helm in Miami.
“Just…wow. You know it’s been a long time since we’ve been to Omaha, so needless to say, we’re very excited, our coaches are very excited,” Morris said. “Our players don’t know what’s getting ready to hit them, something that they will remember for the rest of their lives.”
Miami overcame the shortest start of the season by All-ACC lefthander Thomas Woodrey in the win, largely thanks to a stunning cameo from veteran righthander Sam Abrams early in the contest.
With the game tied at an uneasy 3-3 in the bottom of the third inning, Woodrey loaded the bases with no outs on a walk, double and hit batter. Abrams was called upon in relief and promptly recorded back-to-back swinging strikeouts of the Rams’ Darian Carpenter and Jimmy Kerrigan, somewhat easing the nerves of the 3,680 in attendance.
When he induced a flyout to right from James Bunn to escape the bases-loaded, no-out jam unharmed to maintain the 3-3 score, Abrams (2-0) sent the packed crowd into a towel-waving frenzy.
“That’s definitely the loudest crowd I’ve been in front of,” Abrams said. “It wasn’t late in the game or anything, but obviously it’s a huge moment.”
Bunn’s ball landed in the glove of team captain Willie Abreu for the final out, shifting momentum in favor of the Hurricanes.
“He looked the same as he always does, so we weren’t worried at all,” said Abreu of Abrams’ entrance in a tight situation. “We had the same mentality: minimize damage. Then, one guy goes down, the next guy goes down and then you start thinking, ‘Wow. This is something special.’”
Abrams went on to toss a career-long 4.0 innings and needed just 54 pitches, striking out four and surrendering just a harmless single in the most impressive outing of his four seasons. He exited after a sixth and final inning to a standing ovation, having stifled VCU (40-25) for the entirety of his outing.
Morris called the crowd “great” and said the fans were “really into the game.”
Abrams, who played his freshman year in 2011 but was cut prior to the 2012 season, finished his master’s degree at Miami this spring for his final year of eligibility.
“I can’t believe that, having to come back for a fifth year from what happened my sophomore year, it ended up working out perfectly,” Abrams said. “It’s a dream come true, honestly.”
Miami (49-15) broke a 4-3 game open in the top half of the seventh, plating five runs to bump its lead to a more secure 9-3.
Junior David Thompson opened the inning’s scoring with an RBI single that scored George Iskenderian (double), while an infield RBI single from Brandon Lopez plated another run to extend the lead to 6-3. A bases loaded-walk to Abreu plated another run, while Miami added another pair on a sacrifice fly from Jacob Heyward and an RBI fielder’s choice from Ricky Eusebio.
Every Miami starter scored at least one run in the win, while seven of nine had at least one hit and one RBI.
“Our lineup, [hitters] one through nine, has been producing all year,” Thompson said. “It’s just a lot of fun knowing there’s no pressure on one guy. If you fail, the guy behind you is going to pick you up.”
Yessss Sir. #Strivefor5. Go Canes. So proud of the team.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | June 06, 2015 at 10:58 PM
Great gutsy play, especially pulling out the opener of this series and then getting out of the 3rd inning that changed the whole complexion of the game.
The opener is a dangerous game against a very good (pains me to say) FU team. This is probably the deepest other team in this pool.
The other pool looks potentially loaded right now, with the original seeded teams still being there. Of course, two of those seeds lost today, with the Illini getting pounded by a good hitting Vandy team and the CSF Titans taking down Louisville in the 10th (on a HBP with the bases loaded, no less). TCU and LSU are the other two, and they won their super openers. LSU still ticks me off more than most, having won a baseball championship off of us with that 9th inning HR years ago, along with having Skip Bertman field. I know he did wonders for him, but the guy was the Miami Beach HS head coach and later Ron Fraser's right hand man assistant coach for years. The guy was all about south Florida, and it pains me to see LSU hit national prominence because of a guy who really should have been a UM head coach (but can't take that title away from Fraser!).
Tomorrow we know for sure who the 4th in the UM pool will be. All others are only in game 2s, so other tickets may or may not get punched.
Posted by: JCane | June 07, 2015 at 12:20 AM
and yes, Terrance, I'm very proud of this team and how it's fought its way through. I loved seeing Abrams come through today, although sorry that Woodrey didn't have his placement there today.
Posted by: JCane | June 07, 2015 at 12:21 AM
Great stuff JCane.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | June 07, 2015 at 12:23 AM
Amazing comeback in the 9th by the UVa team, down 4-2, not having scored a run since the 1st, and then getting 3 in the bottom half of the 9th by way of a walk, single, walk, then another walk for the first run, then a single to plate 2 more and walk off.
So far, the Big Ten teams haven't looked like much when playing ACC or SEC teams in the supers.
Posted by: JCane | June 07, 2015 at 12:25 AM
Oh, and gotta correct my typo referring to Bertman doing wonders for "him" when shoulda been "them"
College baseball truly is a lot of fun, yet never caught on as much as it could or should have. The basketball tnmt. is exciting and wonderful for gambling and office/espn pools. College baseball is more just for love of watching competitors, but a helluva lot more exciting than the pros. We never know what will happen any given day, as they're just not as good consistently in college.
Posted by: JCane | June 07, 2015 at 12:40 AM
In a run down memory lane, and I'm assuming only a few other middle aged and above fans would remember the 1982 run to the first national championship in baseball (taken from Wikipedia, but described pretty well). For anyone who doesn't remember the great Ron Fraser and his style:
Miami opened the College World Series with a 7–2 win over Maine. The Hurricanes followed up with a close fought 2–1 victory over Texas. Miami's third game in Omaha had perhaps the most memorable play in the history of college baseball.
In what would come to be called the Grand Illusion, the Hurricanes used a hidden ball trick to pick off NCAA stolen base leader Phil Stephenson. In the 6th inning against powerhouse Wichita State, Stephenson took his usual lead from 1st base. Hurricanes pitcher Mike Kasprzak faked a throw to the bag. First baseman Steve Lusby dove to the ground then raced down towards the Hurricane bullpen where pitchers Dan Smith and Bob Walker leaped to avoid the ball. Stephenson set out for 2nd base as Kasprzak tossed the ball over to shortstop Bill Wrona for the tag. The Hurricanes swung the momentum in their favor and went on to win 4–3.
In the semifinal two days later against Maine, Miami pitcher Rob Souza threw a pickoff attempt over the head of Bill Wrona into center field. But the memory of the Grand Illusion kept the runner from trying to advance to third. Maine head coach John Winkin said, "I thought it was another trick play." Miami rolled to a 10–4 victory that propelled them into the championship game against Wichita State.
In the championship game, Wichita State jumped out to an early 3–0 lead. In the top of the 5th, the Hurricanes scored 6 runs with the aid of a Phil Lane 3-run home run. Miami added a run in the 6th and 2 runs in the 8th before closer Dan Smith finished off the Shockers in the 9th for the Hurricanes first national championship. Smith was named College World Series MVP while Lane and catcher Nelson Santovenia were named to the all tournament team.
Posted by: JCane | June 07, 2015 at 12:41 AM
Canes baseball rocks! Go Canez!
Posted by: YooperCane | June 07, 2015 at 01:02 AM
I'm in Omaha right now, no seriously. The wind is howling and lightning is filling up the sky. Must be the Hurricanes coming to town. They have the stadium all lit up tonight.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | June 07, 2015 at 01:46 AM
Any time we can show that Wannabe school their place in the natural order it's a good day.
To quote Keoiki...F the Turds!!!!
Go Canes!!!!
Posted by: Go Canes | June 07, 2015 at 08:38 AM
Fire Jim Morris?
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | June 07, 2015 at 09:54 AM
“Let’s hope Steve doesn’t make it difficult,” said a high-ranking UM Board of Trustee member. “Our fans don’t like it up there; they want to be down south. That’s where our base is. You have politicians involved from the city and county, so this is difficult. But MLS needs us for the political side of getting this done. We don’t want to be a renter. We want to be a partner in the project.”
Donna Shalala, who has left UM, won’t say if she will remain involved in the stadium pursuit, but UM doesn’t expect her to have a significant role in talks moving forward. Provost Tom LeBlanc is filling in as president until Julio Frenk takes over Sept. 1.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2015/06/dolphins-working-through-linebacker-scenarios-ummls-update-golden-heat-draft-marlins.html
Posted by: CaneRock | June 07, 2015 at 10:50 AM
As usual, the fire Jim Morris people were ones who never attended games or supported the program. I'm glad they've been shut down for a while now.
Posted by: Lur-ker | June 07, 2015 at 10:50 AM
So Happy about our Canes baseball team. Going to Omaha for a chance to win ring number 5. Let's do this Canes.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | June 07, 2015 at 11:02 AM
Don't recall a heavy "fire Jim Morris" presence on CS...
Posted by: CaneRock | June 07, 2015 at 11:33 AM
As far as baseball is concerned, I've admitted before, that I'm a bandwagoner when it comes down to it. Really don't follow it unless UM makes it to Omaha...don't really care for Regionals & SRs besides the updates I get on CS.
Posted by: CaneRock | June 07, 2015 at 11:44 AM
I've lurked for a while now, years, and I distinctly remember it. On here maybe it was just a couple of guys, but more so on other sites or social media. In fact, it was fairly vocal. But as in many of these cases, a small number of persistent, loud, and uninformed "fans" can sound like a huge number. They're entitled to their opinion, that's America, as it should be, but it has to be taken in perspective, and as they are free to express their opinion, their viewpoint is open to criticism as well.
Posted by: Lur-ker | June 07, 2015 at 11:46 AM
They've been all over Twitter for a few years and on the Herald blogs forever.
Here not much but there have been a few.
Changing their recruiting to kids they know will sign, plus having a few who could have left has made a huge difference.
Posted by: Go Canes | June 07, 2015 at 12:36 PM
Changing their recruiting to kids they know will sign, plus having a few who could have left has made a huge difference.
Posted by: Go Canes | June 07, 2015 at 12:36 PM
That's the point.
For several years in a row, the recruiting rankings were misleading, as the top recruits never played for us, causing a gap between fan expectations and results.
Even more so if the expectation is to make it to Omaha, which is pretty hard even for a very good team. Just ask FSU - they won the regular season series against us and the ACC championship and deserved to play in Omaha, yet they are home watching the CWS on TV.
Posted by: VfB_Cane | June 07, 2015 at 12:49 PM
Who cares...the baseball team won yesterday, and like SOUP said...
"The Miami Hurricanes are going back to the College World Series.
For the first time since 2008 and for the 24th time in program history, the Hurricanes will make the trip to Omaha, Nebraska as one of the final eight teams remaining in the 2015 NCAA Baseball Championship."
^^^^^^^^^^^Praise that, instead of finding a reason to ridicule fans that don't attend games.
Posted by: CaneRock | June 07, 2015 at 01:20 PM
Marlin Brooks ran a 4.47 at AGFC. Now THAT'S moving for a 2017 kid.
Kid's nickname..."What Route?".
Posted by: CaneRock | June 07, 2015 at 01:43 PM
I'm calling it as I see it, CR. Also, I wasn't ridiculing anyone, but those people deserved getting called out, and I did precisely that.
The prior comments about the issues with recruiting gaps and keeping kids that could have left, are huge as well.
By all rights, Suarez, our #1 starter would probably be pitching in MLB right now, he's one of the biggest reasons we've made it this far.
That's quite a risk he took as well as a financial hit. Can't be thanked enough.
Posted by: Lur-ker | June 07, 2015 at 01:57 PM
Lur-ker:
What many forget is how much harder it is to advance to the CWS than it was years ago when there'd just be a bunch of regionals and the winners all went to Omaha. Also, it wasn't just based on rankings to decide hosts. Certain schools simply dominated and were routinely in Omaha every year (ie USC, Texas, CSF, UM, etc.).
Now we have to deal with regionals, superregionals, more parity, etc., and it is harder. The process is all that much more fun when the U advances though, huh?
Posted by: JCane | June 07, 2015 at 01:59 PM
I've read where UM can get better prospects, but the cost of attendance keeps a lot of em' away...is this true?
Posted by: CaneRock | June 07, 2015 at 02:03 PM
Exactly right, arcane.
Yes, that's a huge issue, CR.
Look at it this way. You're a big recruit that's decided to play college ball. You love the canes. They're your team. There are limited full scholarships in baseball, and UM, FSU, and UM have none left. Where do you go? Hometown canes, right?
Well if your family is of modest means, what is a 59% scholarship going to cost them at UM vs FSU, or FU, or UCF???
About 25,000 -30,000 at UM. Probably less than 5,000 at the state schools.
Posted by: Lur-ker | June 07, 2015 at 02:15 PM
arcane should read Jcane
Posted by: Lur-ker | June 07, 2015 at 02:16 PM
Not only costs, but a whole lot of prospects don't wait any more. Why not just go when drafted, play minor league ball for a while....More kids used to want the college education part than do now. Not blaming or judging...just the way it is.
Posted by: JCane | June 07, 2015 at 02:26 PM
Yes, but even the ones that are willing to play college ball, have a huge entry barrier in terms of dollars at the U. More like a regular student.
Posted by: Lur-ker | June 07, 2015 at 02:41 PM
Been watching this whole process play out first hand, my nephew is a heck of a ball player.
NCAA only allows 11 scholarships per team in baseball.
They get a lot of grants and other financial aid but it does end up costing more to attend UM than other schools...sometimes.
The equalizer is if lets say UNC offers a local kid, he's stuck paying the non resident tuition rate that's at times triple the cost. And he doesn't have the option of living at home which makes it higher than any local private school.
Posted by: Go Canes | June 07, 2015 at 04:02 PM
While I've never really been a fan of college baseball or basketball for that matter, congrats to the CANEZ on making it back to the CWS
Posted by: SinisterCane | June 07, 2015 at 04:26 PM
Don't recall a heavy "fire Jim Morris" presence on CS...
Posted by: CaneRock | June 07, 2015 at 11:33 AM
They were out there, not many, but they were there.
Posted by: 86Cane | June 07, 2015 at 08:05 PM
Arkansas and LSU advanced today, with Arkansas filling out the UM pool, facing UVa in their opener. The winner will face the UM-FU winner, I believe.
LSU will be the top seed in the other pool in the #2 slot, and is the highest remaining national seed. Louisville, the #3 seed, was able to bounce back and beat CSF today. The next game decides who advances. Both teams are playing very well.
Posted by: JCane | June 07, 2015 at 10:13 PM
Is this a freakin' game or what!
Posted by: CaneRock | June 07, 2015 at 10:52 PM
OT!
Posted by: CaneRock | June 07, 2015 at 10:54 PM
WWIM...like I said, GSW in 5.
Posted by: CaneRock | June 07, 2015 at 11:21 PM
we'll see
Posted by: dUmb ass Fu fan | June 07, 2015 at 11:31 PM
^^^^^^^^
CR, how you come up with that???
Cleveland has owned both games on the road!!!
What's all the hate for? The King gave you two ships...so ungrateful SMH
Soup can you ban him please
Posted by: WWIN | June 07, 2015 at 11:41 PM
Soup can you ban him please
Posted by: WWIN | June 07, 2015 at 11:41 PM
Sure, no problem.
Posted by: 86Cane | June 08, 2015 at 12:24 AM
^^^^^^^
Good man, thanks! LMAO
Posted by: WWIN | June 08, 2015 at 01:24 AM
Also, congrats to the baseball squad for making it to the CWS! Hope we win it all!
Posted by: WWIN | June 08, 2015 at 01:26 AM
@mattyports: [new story] Is a Batman in Miami's backfield, or a bunch of Robins? Al Golden wants to know: http://t.co/MMnaRKqNYR http://t.co/3uDi73Am4a
Posted by: Go Canes | June 08, 2015 at 07:21 AM
@Jakeallen_14: Rivals QB MVP. http://t.co/Bphe06DO52
Posted by: Go Canes | June 08, 2015 at 08:40 AM
@mattyports: Charlotte transfer G Torin Dorn, C-USA freshman of the year, elected to stay home in NC. He chose NC State over Miami.
Posted by: Go Canes | June 08, 2015 at 08:44 AM
@mattyports: Canes & Gators have ruined each other's postseason run many times, but hadn't met in Omaha. Setting the table: http://t.co/5XvujhMtN3
Posted by: Go Canes | June 08, 2015 at 08:51 AM
The last variety is anonymous hate. Political discourse has always had a shadowy component, all the way back to Thomas Paine’s pamphleteering in favor of American independence. But nothing has empowered casual vitriol in the Internet age like the pressure on news organizations to publish any and all anonymous feedback. This has scaled up our ability to express political hate with astonishing efficiency.
Before you dismiss this as harmless chatter, consider a 2014 article in the academic journal Personality and Individual Differences, titled “Trolls Just Want to Have Fun.” Three Canadian psychologists found that habitual Internet commenting is strongly correlated with hateful personality pathologies. The total amount of time spent posting comments online correlated positively with sadism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism. And this held especially true for those who relished “trolling,” the anonymous posting of negative and destructive comments. The 5 percent of participants who listed trolling as their favorite activity earned the highest scores on those unsavory psychological measures.
This evidence is alarming, although it could have its practical uses. When you are on a first date, slip in the question “Do you comment anonymously on online news articles?” Treat an enthusiastic “Yes!” as a yellow light.
Posted by: 86Cane | June 08, 2015 at 09:46 AM
Good Morning Spacers
Posted by: SinisterCane | June 08, 2015 at 10:46 AM
Kudos for Good Ol' Boy Jimbo and his Miami, Florida Hurricanes Diamond Nine. No not the nine of diamonds. The baseball diamond nine. Because I've wondered the past six seasons that maybe Morris should spend more time with his grand-kids and what not. But that's all moot now.
Oh. One more thing. The Canes will be PERSONA ( team ) NON GRATA in Omaha. Simply because those hayseeds in the Hinterlands LITERALLY hate anything to do with Hurricane sports and what not ( I think that's because Miami BYTCHED SLAPPED their beloved, precious Cornhuskers in football so many times! LMFAO )
By the way, the Hurricanes have a very TOUGH DRAW with Florida. Then perhaps MIGHTY Maryland. A team which happened to upset the overall NO. 1 seed, on their home field mind U, in UCLA.
Posted by: TheeMackJones | June 08, 2015 at 12:13 PM
For that Lur-ker's eyes exclusively.
Personally I don't have to DEFEND my allegiance to Miami, Florida Hurricane baseball and what not. Albeit I don't follow the team as much during the regular season as I once did ( At least since the advent of the internet age and what not. ).
And what's this crap about NOT attending Cane games. Which commences to make U a FAUX PAS fan and what not. LOL Get outta' here with that mumble jumbo voodoo doo-doo.
By the way, I've been to SIX College World Series and what not. And I became a fan of Miami way, way, way, way, way back in the day.
Probably when that lurker was SHITING his pants in 1st grade and what not. LOL
Finally, SEC teams LSU and Florida are very, very bad draws for the Hurricanes. And mighty Maryland is no lame arse pushover either.
Posted by: TheeMackJones | June 08, 2015 at 12:23 PM
I hope TINY Cal. St.- Fullerton reaches Omaha. Because then Kevin Costner will be in Omaha and ESPN will have their annual LOVE FEST with Costner and what not.
Posted by: TheeMackJones | June 08, 2015 at 12:27 PM
Three Mack:
FU is a bad draw. LSU is in the other pool. Maryland has gone home already, with UVa being in that slot. Bad draws or not, if you're gonna win the CWS, you've gotta be playing your best and catch a few breaks along the way, cause you're playing good teams across the board.
Posted by: JCane | June 08, 2015 at 12:34 PM