Miami Hurricanes stumble vs Pittsburgh Panthers on Senior Night

Miami, FL – The Miami Hurricanes fell to the Pittsburgh Panthers 5-3 putting up an uneven performance in the season’s penultimate game on Senior Night. Inconsistent play both on the mound and at the plate doomed the Cardiac Canes hoping for an early clinch to the year’s final series. Rafe Schlesinger, who has struggled in April and part of May,  experienced a short outing lasting two frames giving up three runs (all earned) on five hits including a home run. The pitching staff recorded a combined 10 walks and 12 strikeouts. The hitting, meanwhile, couldn’t get anything going after the early Lucas Costello dinger until the seventh-inning stretch.

Dropping the hammer! #GoCanespic.twitter.com/40gL8D7Usw

— Gabriel Garcia (@Gabewritesports) May 17, 2024

Miami seemingly scored a run when JD Urso lined an RBI single, however, in a peculiar twist the run was nullified due to a bat violation. A second run was eventually made on the sacrifice fly by Jacoby Long. The Hurricanes rallied in the ninth but came up short. UM slips to 25-28 (11-18, ACC) looking to win the rubber match in the season finale Saturday afternoon.

Falling flat

Pitt scratched the first runs of the game on their second trip to the plate. Third baseman Daniel Cuvet botched the throw to first leading to two runners in scoring position with no outs. C.J. Funk would score during the 6-4-3 double play shortly after that. Sebastian Pisacreta capped off the effort with a blast to dead-center making it 3-0. Miami answered courtesy of Costello lifting one over the left-field fence.

𝗦𝗘𝗕𝗦!!

M2 | Pitt 3, Miami 0#H2P pic.twitter.com/lEJ5G7iAli

— Pitt Baseball (@Pitt_BASE) May 17, 2024

Herick Hernandez took over in the third striking out the side. Despite the good start, his fortunes changed rapidly. Herick went from fanning three straight to offering three free passes in the fourth loading the bases. Hernandez then failed to handle Dom Popa’s nibbler allowing Ryan Zuckerman to score. Going with a pitching change Chris Scinta came up next, walking Luke Cantwell for another Pitt run making it 5-1. 

Antonio Jimenez led off the seventh with his second double of the night, advancing on a wild pitch and setting up the sac fly from Long after Urso’s bat violation. The ninth saw one last gasp from the Canes with Urso hitting an RBI single plating Lorenzo Carrier taking advantage of left-fielder Turner Grau’s fielding mistake to be within 90 feet of home. It was as far as they’d get.

Senior Night

This year’s roster included six seniors with nearly all of them participating in tonight’s contest. Costello homered simultaneously recording the team’s first hit and run finishing the night going 2-for-4. Ben Chestnutt pitched in the ninth pulling off a great head-ups play, quickly picking up on a bunt and throwing it to third for the force out. Chestnutt also pitched his way out of a bases-loaded pickle allowing the offense one last crack. Urso was hitless until his ninth-inning RBI single.

Forever Hurricanes 🙌

Playing for these six tonight! pic.twitter.com/WUgqocAwwj

— Miami Hurricanes Baseball (@CanesBaseball) May 17, 2024

Both Jacoby Long and Carlos Perez also went hitless. Long, however, made a great throw from center field nailing Jake Kendro at third base. The only senior who did not play was Jack Scanlon, it was also his birthday. Coincidentally, it was Chris Scinta’s birthday too. It’s not the Senior Night the Miami Hurricanes would’ve wanted, however, it doesn’t make it any less special. Tomorrow will be their final college career game at The Light. No matter where the next chapter in their life takes them, they will always be family at The U.

You’re Killing me Smalls