After losing to Penn State in the opening game of the 2023 season, the Miami Hurricanes reeled off seven consecutive wins, with the latest being a 20-2 beatdown against Dartmouth on Sunday.
However, Miami’s winning streak ended Tuesday night when Florida Atlantic University handed the Hurricanes a 6-5 loss in Boca Raton, Florida. It was Miami’s first road game of the season.
Pitcher Marc Degusipe earned the win for the Owls (7-1), as he allowed only two hits in two scoreless innings. Miami pitcher Ronaldo Gallo finished with the loss, throwing 1.1 innings and giving up two earned runs.
First baseman Nolan Schanuel was the star for FAU, as he launched two home runs and drove in four runs on the night.
Miami’s inability to bring runners in, especially late in the game, cost them. The Hurricanes left 14 men stranded in their one-run loss.
“We have to stop pressing and putting too much pressure on ourselves,” head coach Gino DiMare said. “We need to act a little bit more mature at the plate and handle those situations better. We’ll learn from it.”
Miami’s pitching did a great job of whiffing FAU hitters, as the ‘Canes punched out 14 batters in only eight innings. However, the long ball killed the Hurricanes, as the Owls scored five of their six runs on three homers.
To kick off the night, third baseman Yohandy Morales struck again with a solo home run, his fourth of the season. However, the Owls tied the game in the bottom of the second off a solo shot of their own by second baseman Christian Adams.
After an error and a hit–by–pitch put two runners on base, Schanuel drilled a three-run homer to put his team on top, 4-1, in the third.
The Hurricanes countered, however, as designated hitter Ian Farrow scored off an error in the fourth before tying the game with a two-run home run in the sixth. The ‘Canes then took a 5-4 lead that same inning on an RBI single off the bat of center fielder Dario Gomez.
In the bottom of the seventh, Schanuel once again flipped the momentum in favor of FAU, as he hit his second home run of the night, this one being a solo shot to tie the game at five. The Owls would use that momentum to take the lead later that inning thanks to an RBI single from designated hitter Mitchell Hartigan.
The ‘Canes had the bases loaded down a run in the eighth, but they failed to capitalize, leaving the potential tying and go–ahead runs on base.
Miami also got a runner in scoring position in the ninth, as pinch runner Jacoby Long stole second base with no outs. However, the Owls’ pitching shut the door on a Hurricanes comeback, as they retired the last three batters to win, 6-5.
The ‘Canes will now get two days of rest before traveling to Gainesville, Florida, to take on the Florida Gators. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, and the game will be aired on SEC Network Plus.