Canes Set to Face Alabama in Hattiesburg Regional
GAME INFORMATION
Miami and Alabama have met 15 times on the diamond, with the Crimson Tide holding a narrow 8-7 edge in the all-time series.
The two programs last faced off in 1999 at the College World Series in Omaha, where the Hurricanes defeated Alabama twice en route to a national championship. Miami is 2-1 against Alabama in Coral Gables and 4-4 at neutral sites, while the series is tied 2-2 in games played across Tuscaloosa, Dothan and Mobile.
Friday (5/30)
No. 3 Miami (31-24, 15-14 ACC) vs. No. 2 Alabama (41-16, 16-14 SEC)
3 p.m. (ET) – Pete Taylor Park – Hattiesburg, Miss.
TV: ESPN2
Talent: Tom Hart (Play-by-Play), Gaby Sanchez (Analyst)
Radio: WVUM 90.5 FM Student Radio
Miami: RHP AJ Ciscar (5-1, 3.77 ERA)
Alabama: RHP Jack Radel (8-2, 3.54 ERA)
Saturday (5/31)
3 p.m. – Game 3: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2
9 p.m. – Game 4: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
Sunday (6/1)
3 p.m. – Game 5: Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4
7 p.m. – Game 6: Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5
Monday (6/2)
TBD – Game 7 (If Necessary)
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – It has been a season full if its share of highs and lows.
There have been tough losses, including in their most recent outing, an ACC Tournament matchup against California that ended the Hurricanes’ stay in Durham rather quickly.
But there have also been upsets of ranked opponents, win streaks, series sweeps and clutch performances that have showcased how talented a team Miami can be.
Now, the Hurricanes have a chance to start fresh, just when it counts the most.
On Friday afternoon, Miami will open play in the NCAA baseball tournament, squaring off against Alabama in Mississippi as part of the Hattiesburg Regional.
The game marks Miami’s return to college baseball’s championship tournament after last year’s 27-30 campaign ended in the ACC Baseball Championship semifinals.
And for second-year head coach J.D. Arteaga and his players, that is a source of pride.
“The best part [of Monday’s selection show] was watching the reaction of the players. They put so much time into it, and this team is special with how well they get along and how much they care for each other and love each other,” said Arteaga, who will be coaching in his first regional after competing in the tournament as a pitcher for the Hurricanes and previously serving as an assistant coach at Miami. “[It’s] just the opportunity to play more baseball. That’s what I’m happiest about for those guys. We have a handful of guys that have never experienced it. So, for the young guys moving forward and building the future of this program, it’s going to be a great experience. … And there’s a lot of guys that have never been there, some of the transfer guys. So, it’s a great experience.”
Added Hurricanes closer Brian Walters, “I’m super excited. I know the guys [are] too. The excitement in the locker room means everything to us. [After] being a part of last year, it felt really good to put Miami back in the tournament, where we belong. … I love this University, and the tournament is where Miami belongs. It’s got a rich history of it. So being part of the team to put it right back where it needs to be, and like J.D. said, we aspire for even more. That’s the goal and that’s where the program is going, especially with a great head coach like J.D. … So, we’re excited for the opportunity and it’s going to be special.”
Along with No. 3 seed Miami (31-24) and No. 2 seed Alabama (41-16), the Hattiesburg Regional will feature Ivy League champion Columbia (29-17) and No. 1 seed and host Southern Miss, which went 44-14 this season – and 25-5 at home.
The Hurricanes haven’t faced off against any of those opponents this season and aren’t as familiar with them as they were with the teams in the ACC Tournament.
But, they say, the fact they’re playing this weekend means they know each one posts a unique challenge, starting with the Crimson Tide on Friday.
“I mean, they’re there for a reason and so is every other team in all these regionals, so you’ve got to treat them for who they are,” said outfielder Max Galvin. “Alabama’s a really good team. Southern Miss is a really good team … Columbia won the Ivy League. So, every team that we play from now on is going to be hot and they’re a good team and we need to come prepared every single day.”
As part of that preparation, the Hurricanes say they will rely on some of the lessons they’ve learned this season, through those tough losses and that April stretch that saw them win five straight ACC series.
They’ll also rely on standouts like hard-hitting third baseman Daniel Cuvet, a first-team All-ACC selection and Golden Spikes semifinalist who is hitting .378 with a team-leading 16 home runs and 76 RBI; shortstop Jake Ogden, a Brooks Wallace Award semifinalist who is hitting .350 with 30 RBI and eight home runs; pitcher Griffin Hugus, a second-team All-ACC selection with a 4.22 ERA and 85 strikeouts and pitcher AJ Ciscar, an ACC All-Freshman team selection who has a 3.76 ERA with 56 strikeouts.
That combination of experience, and talent, can make a difference now that the stakes are higher, and the Hurricanes believe they have the ability to put together a run that could lead them to their ultimate destination: Omaha and the College World Series.
“We can endure anything, right? Nothing’s too big, right? We’ve come back in some crazy games, and we’ve held some leads in some crazy games, right? We’ve gotten to experience Mark Light magic and all the great things this program means,” Walters said. “We’re excited to go put that on display in a new place. For a lot of us, we’ve never been to Southern Miss. It’s going to be a super cool experience. What a great fan base and a great place to play. We’re excited for anything that could happen.”
Said Ogden, “It’s a new season [and] we’ve got a chance to do something special now, forget about the past and play our best baseball this time of year. That’s what we’re focused on.”
