Six pitchers combine to hold Florida Atlantic to two runs over 12-inning affair.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
The Miami Hurricanes made the most of their lone fall exhibition game.
With 31 new faces on the roster, the Hurricanes defeated the Florida Atlantic Owls, 4-2, at Mark Light Field Saturday evening.
Prior to the contest, Miami and FAU agreed to a controlled 12-inning contest, with each half inning consisting of five batters.
Across the nearly four-hour tilt, the Hurricanes used six different pitchers to hold the Owls to just two runs.
Offensively, Miami scored three times across the first five frames to back the Hurricanes’ staff in the early going.
Following his historic freshman campaign, third baseman Daniel Cuvet picked up right where he left off with a sacrifice fly in the first.
One inning later, designated hitter Bobby Marsh provided the biggest swing of the day with a solo shot to left to double the lead.
On the mound, redshirt junior right-hander Brian Walters drew the start for Miami, striking out a pair of batters over two hitless frames.
Junior righty Griffin Hugus followed with two scoreless innings of his own before the Owls scratched across a run off veteran hurler Alex Giroux in the fifth.
Outfielder Derek Williams answered back for the Hurricanes with an RBI double in the bottom half to push the cushion to 3-1.
In the eighth, FAU trimmed the deficit in half, but Miami’s bullpen would keep the Owls there.
Right-handers Carson Fischer, Reese Lumpkin and Jackson Cleveland combined to silence the visitors the rest of the way.
Sophomore Jake Kulikowski provided an insurance run with a run-scoring double in the 10th, as Cleveland put on the finishing touches over the final two innings.
In the win, junior infielder Jake Ogden finished with three hits and scored twice. Meanwhile, Marsh collected a pair of knocks, highlighted by the homer.
The Hurricanes resume fall action with an intrasquad scrimmage at 10 a.m. Tuesday. All practices and scrimmages are free and open to the public.
To keep up with the University of Miami baseball team on social media, follow @CanesBaseball on X, Instagram and Facebook.