Miami Hurricanes blast 3 HRs, hammer Blue Devils on Senior Day

Miami, Florida – The Miami Hurricanes ended the regular season on a high note surging past the Blue Devils 10-1 for their sixth consecutive series win. A day after their incredible comeback UM gave their seniors a memorable send-off by mashing three home runs and upping their season total to an ACC-best 106. It’s also the second-most homers in program history. Ronaldo Gallo was today’s starter ultimately getting the win pitching three scoreless innings and surrendering one hit. The bout between conference rivals hit pause at the top of the second due to a 67-minute lightning delay. When play resumed, Gallo remained on the mound keeping Duke at bay.

pic.twitter.com/IbpziQDvKV
What's better than a home run? A grand slam. Zach Levenson dropping the hammer. #GoCanes

— Gabriel Garcia (@Gabewritesports) May 20, 2023

Zach Levenson, CJ Kayfus, and Blake Cyr all went yard as part of a 13-hit barrage. This year’s seniors, Carlos Lequerica, Alejandro Torres, Dario Gomez, and Andrew Walters, all got playing time for the finale. Lequerica took over for Gallo in relief also tossing three frames allowing an unearned run on three hits. Torres was next recording a pair of solid innings with Walters closing it out. Gomez got an at-bat in during the eighth and played left field.

Kayfus was the top performer going 4-for-5 tallying two runs, two RBIs, a double, and his 12th-round tripper of 2023. He ended the season hitting .345, the second-best on the team behind Yohandy Morales who has a .395 batting average.

With the 2023 season over, the Miami Hurricanes finished 37-18 (18-12, ACC) including an impressive 28-5 at home and 10-3 in midweek games. They were 9-13 on the road, however. In spite of depth problems within the starting rotation, The U is a surprising 15-4 in bullpen games.

Blake Cyr's 16th blast of the year pushed the home run total for the Miami Mashers™️ to 106, which is tied for the second-most in program history!! pic.twitter.com/xeZYd20tz7

— Miami Hurricanes Baseball (@CanesBaseball) May 20, 2023

Go long

Once the delay was over, the Miami Hurricanes turned on the power shortly thereafter with a grand slam from Levenson in the third inning. Miami got two runners on base to lead off the effort as they moved into the heart of the order. Cyr drew the bases-loaded walk setting up his teammate who is certainly no stranger to BIG clutch hits. Levenson delivered in spades off the scoreboard.

Ronnie is rolling 💪

📺: ACCNX pic.twitter.com/FVAWa4gklB

— Miami Hurricanes Baseball (@CanesBaseball) May 20, 2023

Duke scratched one back in the fourth. Hollywood flubbed the double play giving the Blue Devils a chance to score with runners at the corners. Tyler Albright sac flied to right field plating Alex Stone. It’s all they’d get.

Kayfus countered with a solo shot to left just inside the foul pole making it a four-run game at 5-1. The Blue Devils threatened in the fifth with back-to-back singles putting runners at the corners again with one out. Lequerica turned them away retiring the next two hitters with some help from Yoyo and Kayfus.

After the seventh-inning stretch, Hollywood hammered his 16th dinger of the year to make it 7-1 Miami. It’s the fourth most by a freshman in program history. If that weren’t enough, the Hurricanes effectively ran away with it scoring three more in the eighth. Carlos Perez lined his third double of the year driving in Jacoby Long and Lorenzo Carrier. Perez came home on the Kayfus RBI double. And so the Miami Hurricanes bested the Blue Devils.

Tack 'em on, Carlitos!

📺: ACCNX pic.twitter.com/oxqZnU0sq3

— Miami Hurricanes Baseball (@CanesBaseball) May 20, 2023

Senior Day

Fans and players alike commemorated a very special day when the seniors of the team don their Hurricanes uniforms for the last time in a regular season game. It’s a bitter-sweet feeling, a culmination of a college career that may or may not have been entirely at the University of Miami. Carlos Lequerica for example, went from Bethune-Cookman to Miami-Dade over to Florida International before landing at his last stop in Coral Gables. I remember writing about him during his Panther days. By Saturday’s end, he etched a 4-1 record with a 3.89 ERA in 26 appearances including a singular start.

Before today’s game, we honored a special group 🙌

Thank you, seniors! pic.twitter.com/Vtp6ixqkld

— Miami Hurricanes Baseball (@CanesBaseball) May 20, 2023

Alejandro Torres is another fella from FIU who happens to be a red-shirt sophomore. In his fourth season, Torres assisted the team as both a reliever and starter recording a 4-0 record and 4.61 ERA in 28 appearances, six of them starts. Technically, he can come back. Then there’s Dario Gomez. Hailing from Las Vegas he transferred from Nevada for his final year. Heading into the finale, Gomez slashed .257/.315/.319 in 46 games (and 113 at-bats).

Last but certainly not least from this year’s outgoing crop is Andrew Walters. His name alone requires no further introduction or a stat. Walters has been excellent as the team’s closer and there is no one else I’d have on the mound when the game is on the line. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 18th round of the 2022 MLB Draft. Walters opted to return for some unfinished business. No matter what happens going forward, we wish these guys the very best as they will forever be Hurricanes.

Impressions

With the regular season over, I asked coach DiMare on whether or not the team has done enough for a national seed.#GoCanes pic.twitter.com/dX7LnGLpTo

— Gabriel Garcia (@Gabewritesports) May 21, 2023

The boys did great this weekend. Despite Thursday’s stumble, the Miami Mashers rallied down 8-3 late to not only tie it in the ninth but win it in extras on Friday. It was a stunning comeback, I’d say their best one this year. The rubber match was closer initially with the Canes bursting ahead via Levenson’s clutch four-run bomb. Miami had a chance to clinch the ACC Coastal at the beginning of the series but it was not to be. The Virginia Cavaliers were on a tear, escaping a bases-loaded ninth they beat Georgia Tech 8-7 sweeping the Yellow Jackets for their ninth straight win.

Levenson going over his at bat that led to the grand slam in the third.#GoCanes pic.twitter.com/UUCWtw8xzG

— Gabriel Garcia (@Gabewritesports) May 21, 2023

I asked coach DiMare whether the team had done enough for a national seed to which he swiftly answered no. Aware of the Hurricanes’ past performances he emphasized the team could not look past the ACC Baseball Championship. Locking up the fourth seed, UM sits atop Pool D with familiar foes Duke and NC State. There are a lot of moving parts and nothing is guaranteed. For example, say they lose both games, and the Blue Devils somehow win the tourney (it’s at Durham after all) the selection committee has every right to take away hosting the regional for The U. The latest series between the Miami Hurricanes and Blue Devils is still fresh in their minds, ripe for revenge.

If they win one contest in group play or even better advance to the semi-finals then Coral Gables can dare to hope. In a bit of good news, Karson Ligon threw a simulation yesterday. His progress remains steady and DiMare said that if the team is still hanging around come Saturday, he’ll get the ball.

Karson Ligon's progress in coach's words. The update is encouraging.#GoCanes pic.twitter.com/Fm2VV5sbsb

— Gabriel Garcia (@Gabewritesports) May 21, 2023

Awards

Bob Werner Award: Alejandro Torres

Ron Fraser Award: Andrew Walters for the second year in a row

Rookie of the Year: Blake Cyr

Arnold Novins Award for Most Popular Canes Player: Dominic Pitelli

HR Champion: Blake Cyr

2023 MVP: Yohandy Morales

Gus Bus Award

I’d say this is the last one, however, it’s not. Kayfus had a terrific day leading the way to victory.

You’re Killing Me Smalls

Edgardo Villegas went hitless Saturday afternoon in a disappointing end to the season.

Comeback Player of the Year

I’m throwing this award for a fella who I once said needed to step up in past season previews. Dominic Pitelli had a great year as fans saw improvement across the board numbers wise complemented by great defense. Dom has really grown.