Miami baseball puts up 7 runs in first two innings, beats Maine 9-1 in team’s Coral Gables Regional opener

From the first pitch of the Miami Hurricanes‘ opening matchup in the Coral Gables Regional of the NCAA Tournament against the Maine Black Bears, it was apparent that head coach Gino DiMare’s squad came ready to play.

Whether it was at the plate or on the mound, Miami could do no wrong in its 9-1 win over the Black Bears.

“Our talk before the game was try to get out front early, couldn’t script it any better,” DiMare said. “We jumped up early with seven runs in the first two innings and Gage just did an outstanding job of pounding the strike zone and getting ahead of hitters. All in all pretty much couldn’t have drawn it up any better than this first game here.”

The Hurricanes came out firing on all cylinders in the first inning after right-handed pitcher Gage Ziehl stuck out the side to open the contest, while Edgardo Villegas got the ‘Canes on the board during their second at-bat after blasting a two-run home run over the center field wall.

“J.D. (Artega) was calling a good game and Carlos (Perez) was catching a good game,” Ziehl said. “I think my job was to go set the tone and I think I did.”

Miami’s hot start at the plate would continue in the second inning as the Hurricanes added five more runs in the frame to extend their lead to 7-0 after RBIs from Villegas, first baseman CJ Kayfus, and a three-run home run from Yohandy Morales, his 17th of the season.

Maine got on the board for the first time during the top of the fourth after an errant throw to third base allowed second baseman Quinn McDaniel to steal home, but that would be all the Black Bears could muster in the inning and the contest.

“Better team won tonight no doubt about it,” Maine head coach Nick Derba said. “Miami was really good on the mound. They flat out beat us. We gave them our best and the better team won. No doubt about that.”

After a scoreless four-inning stretch, Miami right fielder Zach Levenson picked up right where Morales left off with a two-run homer of his own to push the Hurricanes lead to 9-1.

Following a six-inning outing on the mound, Ziehl ended the evening with seven strikeouts.

Up next for the Hurricanes is a date with the Texas Longhorns, who defeated Louisiana 4-2 in their opening matchup in the Coral Gables regionals. With the first pitch set for 6 p.m. Saturday, DiMare expects a battle between two storied college baseball programs.

“Two of the more storied programs; the two programs that have been to the world series the most,” DiMare said. “Its just a first class program that has always been very successful. It should be a lot of fun and great for the fans. It should be great for college baseball and I know our players are looking forward to it.”

The post Miami baseball puts up 7 runs in first two innings, beats Maine 9-1 in team’s Coral Gables Regional opener appeared first on On3.