Hurricanes Walk Off with 4-3 Win

Box Score

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – A day after they helped open Marlins Park in thrilling fashion, the No. 13 Miami Hurricanes returned to regular-season play with a 4-3 walk-off win over visiting Miami (Ohio) University.

It was Head Coach Dan Simonds’ club, making its first trip to Coral Gables in over 30 years, that struck first with a two-run second inning against Hurricanes’ lefty Steven Ewing.

After consecutive seeing-eye singles from Kevin Bower and Matt Honchel, third baseman Bryan Beaver knocked in both runners with a rip down the left field line to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. The RedHawks would threaten once again in the fourth inning, as the team loaded the bases with only one out. This time Ewing held Miami off, however, allowing only one run on a sacrifice fly.

The Hurricanes would finally get on the board in the bottom of the same frame, as Brad Fieger singled and advanced on a throwing error by the leftfielder. Fieger, who moved over to third on a fly-out from Esteban Tresgallo, would later score on a Julian Santos groundout, cutting the lead to 3-1. Tresgallo extended his hit streak to an ACC-best 11-straight games earlier in the contest.

Ewing would settle down after the fourth, retiring 10 of the next 12 batters before being pulled after 6.2 innings of work. Javi Salas would enter the game in relief, setting aside the next four batters he faced.

The Canes would threaten once again in the bottom of the seventh, as Santos and Stephen Perez made their way on base. Pinch-hitter Rony Rodriguez, making his first trip to the plate since last week’s midweek battle against Florida Atlantic, struck out before Tyler Palmer took first after getting hit by a pitch. But sophomore centerfielder Dale Carey, who finished the day 1-for-4, struck out with the bases loaded to end the inning.

An error by  catcher Nate Bowles late in the eighth inning would help the Canes cut the deficit to 3-2. With runners on first and second and two outs, Perez struck on a dropped third strike. Bowles’ throw to first base would sail over the fielder’s head, however, as Tresgallo crossed the plate. After closer E.J. Encinosa retired the RedHawks in the top of the ninth, the fireworks began.

A sure out was dropped by the RedHawks’ shortstop to put leadoff batter Michael Broad on second to begin the frame. After a single from Tyler Palmer advanced Broad to third, Dale Carey walked to load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the frame. Senior catcher Peter O’Brien popped up harmlessly to left field before Brad Fieger stepped into the batter’s box.

Fieger, who was 2-for-4 entering the at-bat, connected on a fly ball to right field. Broad, sprinting from third base after the catch was made, managed to score safely and tie the game after the ball was dropped by the catcher on a close play at home plate. Tresgallo, next up after Fieger, knocked in the game-winning run on a ball that was muffed by the RedHawks shortstop, plating Palmer and giving the Canes a dramatic 4-3 win.