BYU uses the force homering four times tripping Miami Hurricanes

Miami, Florida – The force was not with the Miami Hurricanes falling 8-2 to the BYU Cougars in the series finale on Star Wars Day missing the sweep. UM broke an early pitcher’s duel with a pair of home runs, however, BYU scored eight unanswered runs in the second half of the contest spread out through four consecutive innings.

May The Fourth Be With You 🪐 pic.twitter.com/ymzU8YlAx5

— Miami Hurricanes Baseball (@CanesBaseball) May 4, 2024

Lefty starter Herick Hernandez used his Jedi mind tricks to hold the Cougars to a mere hit through five frames. He was pulled when things started to go south in the sixth as BYU muscled two dingers tying then doubling up the Canes. By the end of the afternoon, Brigham Young University accounted for four of the six homers in today’s matchup. Hernandez finished the day giving up three runs on four hits, walking two, and striking out six.

UM hasn’t swept a team since NJIT on opening weekend back in mid-February. Like the rebel alliance, all was not lost. This was their first series win since beating then #15 North Carolina on March 15-17. Slipping to 21-25, the Hurricanes host crosstown rival FIU on Wednesday.

“Do or do not. There is no try.”

Dorian opening up the scoring teeing off up the middle. #GoCanes pic.twitter.com/cNyn2bwJ2O

— Gabriel Garcia (@Gabewritesports) May 4, 2024

Hernandez battled Ben Hansen as the two starters handcuffed opposing hitters. The Miami Mashers broke the stalemate with some lumber. Dorian Gonzalez Jr. showed off his lightsaber skills stroking one dead center for his sixth home run of the season. Jedi master Lucas Costello searched his feelings and slammed his fifth towards the left gifting the Hurricanes a 2-0 lead.

BYU threatened to strike back in the fifth with two runners in scoring position. Luckily for the home team, Hernandez pitched his way out of a pickle. The inning was off to a rocky start due to Antonio Jimenez’s second throwing error, followed by a walk. The left-handed hurler retired the next two hitters with the runners moving up before fanning Easton Jones to deny the Cougars a run.

COLLIN REUTER 2 RUN SHOT👋

All tied up in the 6th!

📺 https://t.co/C9XXi2KOsC pic.twitter.com/9g44vfV0MP

— BYU Baseball (@BYUBaseball) May 4, 2024

Collin Reuter became the chosen one for Brigham Young University in the sixth, tying the game via a jack over the left-field fence. Hernandez was eventually subbed out for Ben Chestnutt who also surrendered a two-run blast this time to Ryker Schow force choking the momentum in favor of BYU.

Chris Diaz took over for the seventh but also suffered a similar fate giving up a homer to Kuhio Aloy making it 5-2 Cougars. The Canes tried to rally, although, they stranded runners at the corners that same inning. The Cougars, meanwhile, extended their lead thanks to an RBI triple and RBI double complemented by another run in the ninth.

Impressions

.@cooper_vest triple 🤝 @watkins_brock scores

📺 https://t.co/C9XXi2KOsC pic.twitter.com/rsrHsXC7rj

— BYU Baseball (@BYUBaseball) May 4, 2024

Once more the bullpen faltered and the hitting did little after the fourth. The team was also plagued by poor defense. Antonio Jimenez needs to work on his fielding skills this offseason. It was a throwing error in the third, and another in the fifth. Jimenez also failed to catch a line drive in the eighth. He now leads the team with 11 errors on the season. There’s also the base running. The latest example saw JD Urso lead off the third with his second double of the year only to get thrown out at third in the steal attempt because the ball was in the dirt.

Hats off to BYU though. They really wanted to avoid the sweep, dominating from the sixth onward. They did it with good pitching, adequate defense and a mix of power and extra-base hits. An overall complete performance by them. The fellas will look to regroup from BYU force choking the Miami Hurricanes. Onto FIU.

Gus Bus Award

Dorian Gonzalez went two-for-four with a home run, one of the few bright spots of today’s game.

You’re Killing Me Smalls

Jimenez’s errors didn’t amount to anything but it’s still a sloppy performance.