Miami 13, Pitt 10: Offense Powers ‘Canes Past the Panthers

With a 13-10 Friday night win over the Pittsburgh Panthers Miami moved to 17-9 (4-6 ACC) on the season. The pitching staff struggled again in tonight’s game, allowing 10 runs and allowing the game to be much closer than it should have been. The ‘Canes will need to find solutions to that problem soon, as the current level of performance from the pitching staff will make it hard to earn victories.

Miami got on the board first with a three run top of the second. Gabe Rivera walked with the bases loaded to score the first run, an Anthony Vilar single scored the second run, and a Freddy Zamora single scored the third run of the inning. In the bottom of the second the Panthers got on the board with a bases loaded walk of their own to make the game 3-1 after two.

Miami had another big inning in the top of the fourth. Freddy Zamora drove in Jordan Lala, who had singled to start the inning, to make the game 4-1, and Adrian Del Castillo made the game 6-1 with a moonshot off the parking lot in right field. In the bottom of the fifth Pitt responded and cut the lead to just two. An RBI single got one run back for the Panthers, and a two-run double made the score 6-4.

In the bottom of the sixth Pitt got to within one run of Miami with a solo home run. The score held there until the top of the eighth, when Miami tacked on a few more runs with another rally. Back-to-back walks from Chad Crosbie and Jordan Lala opened the inning, and Anthony Vilar loaded the bases with a single up the middle. Freddy Zamora then drove in Crosbie and Lala to make the score 8-5, and Adrian Del Castillo moved the score to 9-5 by driving in Vilar. The Hurricanes then loaded the bases, and JP Gates walked to push across the fourth run of the inning and make the score 10-5.

In the bottom of the eighth Pitt loaded the bases and two runs walked in before Miami could end the inning. Fortunately, Miami responded in the top of the ninth with a three run rally. Two walks began the inning, and Jordan Lala moved to third from second on a bad pickoff attempt. Freddy Zamora then drove an RBI double down the third base line to make the score 11-7. A sac-fly and an RBI single from Adrian Del Castillo and Ray Gil respectively made the game 13-7. Unfortunately, when Ray Gil rounded first on his single he immediately pulled up and the athletic trainer came out to look at him, Gino DiMare replaced Gil with Tyler Paige. If Gil is seriously injured and is out for a length of time that would be a major loss for the Hurricanes lineup, hopefully it was just a precaution and he’s ok.

In the bottom of the ninth Greg Veliz allowed a three run home run, but managed to work out of the rest of the inning and Miami won 13-10. Pitt is not a very good offensive team, but they managed 15 hits and 10 runs on the Hurricanes’ pitching staff tonight. Miami needs to be better on the mound in order to have success this season.

Game Info

Winning Pitcher: Evan McKendry (5-1, 4.1 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 8 K)

Losing Pitcher: Derek West (0-1, 3.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 2 K)

Save: None

Box Score:

Next Game

@ Pitt Game 2

Date & Time: Saturday, March 30, 12:00 P.M. Eastern

Hurricanes Starter: Chris McMahon (1-2, 4.36 ERA)

Pittsburgh Starter: Dan Hammer (2-3, 6.51 ERA)

Radio: WVUM 90.5 FM

Television: ACC Network Extra