@yoyo_moralees
No. 9 Miami Routs Maine 9-1 in Coral Gables Regional Opening Round
If there is one lesson the Miami Hurricanes (40-19 overall, 18-12 ACC) learned from last year's blunder in the postseason, it was to get out to as fast of a start as possible. That is what the No. 9-national-seeded Miami Hurricanes did when they asserted their dominance against Maine in the Canes' 9-1 thrashing of the Maine Black Bears (32-19 overall, 19-5 AEC).
Miami scored seven runs in the first two innings thanks to two multiple-RBI home runs by infielder Edgardo Villegas and third baseman Yohandy "Yo-Yo" Morales.
That was not all for Miami's offense. The Hurricanes' bats were active all night, for Miami tallied 11 hits in total. Additionally, four different Miami hitters had multiple hits, with Blake Cyr and CJ Kafus joining Villegas and Morales in totaling two hits each.
The Hurricanes displayed solid plate discipline as four batters struck out once and four more walked. The good hitting was once again led by the Canes superstar.
Morales' hot streak has led into the postseason. Morales' three-RBI home run pushed the Hurricanes' lead to 7-0. Morales went 2-4 at the plate with a single but was thrown down running for second base.
Miami's bullpen had a strong game as the only run scored came from a throwing error. Starting pitcher Gage Ziehl struck out seven batters in six innings pitched and allowed four hits. Alejandro Rosario, Ben Chestnutt and Sebastian Perez each pitched an inning to close out the game.
The Hurricanes will face the Texas Longhorns (39-20 overall, 15-9 Big 12) on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. (EST) at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field. The Horns are coming off a 4-2 win against the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns which opened the regional weekend in Coral Gables.
The Hurricanes have the option to roll with Rosario or Chestnutt to start against Texas while the Horns will likely start Lebarron Johnson Jr., as Lucas Gordon got the start against Louisiana.
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