Batter Up!

The University of Miami baseball team opened the Gino DiMare era with a record-setting victory over Rutgers on Friday night.
 
The Hurricanes (1-0) dominated Rutgers (0-1) for a 19-3 victory on opening night inside Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.

The 19-run performance set a record for runs scored on opening day against a Division I opponent, surpassing a 17-3 win over FIU on Jan. 28, 2006. 

"I feel happy about the game and I know our players have to feel good about it; they have to feel confident," DiMare said. "It's the most runs we've ever scored in an opener against a D1 team. That's a lot of openers and it's the most we've ever scored. We've played Rutgers many a times and we've struggled with them at times over the years. Certainly, you feel good about the game."
 
Miami's offense was impressive from the start, as shortstop Freddy Zamora crushed a 3-1 pitch from Rutgers starter Serafino Brito to the wall in left-center for an RBI double. Freshman Anthony Vilar, who worked a walk in his debut plate appearance, scored easily from first and the Canes had their first run of the 2019 season just three batters into the game.
 

"We wanted to set the tone for the game obviously early, but I've talked about setting the tone for the season and I don't think you can draw it up any better than that," DiMare said." We absolutely set the tone in the first inning. We went three up, three down and then put some runs on the board in the first inning."
 
The Hurricanes broke it open with a six-run second inning that featured a two-run triple by Willy Escala, an RBI double by Vilar and was capped by a two-run homer by Zamora that cleared the scoreboard in left field. 
 
"I definitely noticed the ball was jumping off the bat more than it did last year," Zamora said. "It's all about approach at the plate and getting a good pitch to hit, a pitch to drive, and I think I did a good job of that today."
 

Miami hitters had 20 hits on Friday night, but were especially successful with runners on base (14--for29) and with runners in scoring position (11-for-20).
 
"Overall a good start, " DiMare said. "I'm happy that we swung the bat because that's kind of been our nemesis the last few years and we've been working really hard on trying to improve on that. I've been looking forward to watching us play for a while now against somebody else and I am looking forward to moving forward here and getting better."
 

After driving a ball to the wall an inning earlier to send two runners home, Escala drove in his third run of the night with a perfectly placed safety squeeze that allowed Lala to score easily from third and give Miami an 8-0 lead. Two batters later, Vilar battled through an eight-pitch at-bat before smacking a two-run single to left that put the Canes up double-digits.
 
Hurricanes' ace Evan McKendry earned his first win of the season in impressive fashion. The junior right-hander held Rutgers to three runs on four hits over six innings while striking out eight and walking just one. McKendry retired the first 10 hitters he faced and did not allow a hit until Rutgers' 13^thbatter of the night.
 
"It was awesome, I mean a dream come true," McKendry said. "I always wanted to be the Friday night here. It was just a great experience."

Comments

[raizecane]

After 45 minutes was able to buy six tickets by phone.

Total bush league job by the ticket office.

Posted by: Go Canes!! | February 19, 2019 at 12:19 PM
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I remember waiting hours to purchase ABBA tickets....LOl. At least you got them.

[NativeCane]

Affirmative Raize, Soup got the last three jars and Beckles is on injured reserve til after rotator cuff surgery....

[Terrance Sullivan]

I would be interested in the 50 Dollar ticket sections lol for the Florida Game in the Throwdown in OTown!

[raizecane]

Affirmative Raize, Soup got the last three jars and Beckles is on injured reserve til after rotator cuff surgery....

Posted by: NativeCane | February 19, 2019 at 12:52 PM

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Damn 86 and his assumption of guava jelly. That was damn good stuff.

[raizecane]

^^ consumption ^^

[CGNC]

Hello Canespace cadets! I am thinking of getting either Sling TV or Hulu Plus - tired of paying Comcast and getting nothing for it. For the same money, I can use Comcast for internet only and have all my channels. Any recommendations would be appreciated!

[NativeCane]

My Bull Gator high school buddy just called and said he bought 4 tickets for the battle in big O. Asked if me and Mrs Native want to double date.

[Terrance Sullivan]

CGNC Do It My Friend!

[86Cane]

Gonna have to meet you, Becky has your guava jam and I just picked up 3 large coolers of meat with several types of sausage and cubed steak, ground venison, and backstrap.....#carepackage

Posted by: Native | February 19, 2019 at 10:37 AM

Just say the word and my soul shall be healed!

[86Cane]

I would be interested in the 50 Dollar ticket sections lol for the Florida Game in the Throwdown in OTown!

Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | February 19, 2019 at 12:56 PM

Say what?

[86Cane]

Damn 86 and his assumption of guava jelly. That was damn good stuff.

Posted by: raizecane | February 19, 2019 at 12:57 PM

I may be enticed to share one of my three jars of guava jelly for the right incentives?

[Terrance Sullivan]

86 I would prefer the 50 dollar ticket joints but will pay a 100 dollars for a ticket but I am perfectly content to go to Twin Peaks on I-Drive and we watch the Game!

[86Cane]

Are there $50 tickets available?

[86Cane]

You have to be a season ticket holder to buy Pre-Sale tikets to the camping world kickoff game and well, you know, I gave mine up.

[Terrance Sullivan]

Yes Sir 86 I gave up mine as well. I was just saying if those 50 dollar tickets are still available we can scoop those up. My Guess is the 100. dollar tickets will be gone but if any are available we can jump on those. We are not paying above a 100 dollars per ticket because we can simply go to Twin Peaks and have a good time and call it a Day.

[86Cane]

NEW BLOG IS UP!