Sunday might have been slow at Mark Light Field, but the grand moment — a walk-off home run by first baseman CJ Kayfus — was more than worth the wait.
“Not quite the way we drew it up,” Miami head coach Gino DiMare said. “Proud of our guys for fighting back and being able to pull through and get the victory.”
In a 3-2 win over Penn State, Miami was less than comfortable the whole game.
When Kayfus stepped up to the plate in the ninth inning, it seemed nothing was going right for him or the team. The 6-foot junior had yet to get a hit in three at–bats, and the ‘Canes trailed 2-1.
Additionally, the Hurricanes had just lost a replay review that confirmed shortstop Dominic Pitelli was thrown out at second base. Then, outfielder Dario Gomez struck out on the next pitch to give Miami a quick two outs.
“We had a miscommunication with the sign. We had the sac bunt on, but Dom [Pitelli] didn’t see it,” DiMare said.
Getting the smallest bit of life from an Edgardo Villegas single, Kayfus stepped up and swung at the first pitch from Penn State reliever Steven Miller. The ball sailed over the right–field wall to lift the Hurricanes to victory.
“I was just trying to get to the next guy,” Kayfus said. “I hit it and I was like, ‘I just won the game. No doubt whatsoever.’”
However, most of the game was slow–paced, as the Hurricanes never scored against Penn State starter Tommy Molsky. The right-handed sophomore finished his day with only three hits allowed in five innings pitched.
Miami starter Alejandro Rosario was also solid.
“Rosario did an excellent job,” DiMare said. “He should not have been out after five and a third. We got two double plays we didn’t turn. That made him throw more pitches.”
In 5.1 innings pitched, Rosario allowed only two runs on 94 pitches. The starter gave up four hits and struck out six but struggled with location at times. Rosario walked four batters, and his wild pitch in the third allowed designated hitter Thomas Bramley to score.
“Loved the way he handled himself, loved his composure,” DiMare said of Rosario. “Still want him to be a little more sharp with his command.”
As the lineup struggled, Miami turned to its youth. The Hurricanes sent freshman Blake Cyr to the plate in the sixth, and his single scored FGCU transfer Ian Farrow to put Miami on the board, making the score 2-1.
“I was just really focused, knew what I had to do,” Cyr said. “Penn State came out and battled, but I just knew I had to be a good teammate and get the job done and score that run to get us going.”
Under the pressure of a struggling offense, Miami’s relievers stepped up in a big way. In 3.2 innings of work, Chris Scinta, along with Brian and Andrew Walters, did not allow a single run.
“Chris Scinta threw great. Freshman came in and threw great, excellent. Bases loaded, got out of the jam,” DiMare said.
Set up by timely pitching and a clutch base hit from Villegas, Miami was finally able to overcome the strong pitching of Penn State and earn the win on Kafyus’ ninth–inning homer.
“Big at bat by Eddy Villegas. Huge, or we don’t walk off,” DiMare said.
On the mound, Andrew Walters (1-0) earned the win for his efforts, while Miller (0-1) was handed the loss for allowing the home run to Kayfus.
Next up, the Hurricanes face the Stetson Hatters on Tuesday night. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Mark Light Field.