No.1 Miami 12, Kent State 0: ‘Canes Dominate First Mid-Week Game

The Miami Hurricanes moved to 4-0 with a dominant win over the Kent State Golden Flashes Wednesday night. The ‘Canes got their first shutout of the season, and Miami’s bats continued to hit well heading into a showdown with No.2 Florida this weekend.

Hurricanes starter Alex McFarlane got into some danger in the first inning of his first collegiate start. A single and a walk gave Kent State two baserunners, but McFarlane struck out three batters to work out of the inning.

In the bottom of the frame Miami rallied with two outs. A single and an error put two men on base for Alex Toral. The junior took advantage of the opportunity, launching a ball to right-center for a three-run home run that put the ‘Canes up early.

The Hurricanes pitchers worked well through the top of the second and third for Miami. McFarlane worked a clean top of the second and was replaced by Jake Garland for the top of the third, presumably because both appeared against Rutgers last Sunday.

In the bottom of the third, the Hurricanes blew the game wide-open. Miami batted around in the inning and scored seven runs. The Hurricanes loaded the bases with one out for freshman Jared Thomas off of two singles and a walk. Thomas rose to the occasion, driving a double to right-center that was around four feet short of a home run for his first hit and RBIs as a Hurricane. Tony Jenkins followed him with Miami’s second three-run home run of the game, and then two singles and a walk loaded the bases yet again, this time for Adrian Del Castillo. The sophomore lined a single into left-center to score Miami’s final two runs of the inning, after three the ‘Canes led 10-0.

Miami added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth. A single and a walk put two runners on, and Tony Jenkins hit a single through the left side of the infield for the Hurricanes’ 11th run of the night. A fielder’s choice then put runners on the corners, and a sac-fly from Anthony Vilar made the score 12-0 Miami through four.

After the fourth Jake Garland was replaced by Albert Maury. Maury gave up two hits to Kent State in the top of the fifth, but worked out of the jam and held the lead at 12-0. Then, JP Gates and Alex Munroe worked clean innings of their own in the sixth and seventh to keep Kent State scoreless heading to the bottom of the seventh.

Miami’s bats quieted down in the middle innings, with Gino DiMare going to the bench to give his starting lineup rest ahead of the Hurricanes weekend series against No.2 Florida. After the seventh Miami’s pitchers continued to hold Kent State scoreless. Spencer Bodanza worked out of a bases loaded jam, getting the third out on a fantastic throw home from Chad Crosbie that caught Grant Vera trying to tag-up and score from third on a lineout.

In the top of the ninth Yordani Carmona worked a solid first inning as a Hurricane and Miami won 12-0. The ‘Canes now head into a weekend series with No.2 Florida that’ll have the eyes of the college baseball world on Coral Gables.

Game Stats

Winning Pitcher: Alex McFarlane (1-0, 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K)

Losing Pitcher: Zach Schultz (0-1, 2.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K)

Save: None

Box Score:

Next Game

Vs No.2 Florida Game 1

Date & Time: Friday, February 21, 7:00 P.M. Eastern

Hurricanes Starter: Brian Van Belle (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Florida Starter: Tommy Mace (1-0, 3.00 ERA)

Radio: 99.9 FM WKIS HD-2 / WVUM 90.5 FM

Television: ACC Network Extra