UM sweeps first season series under new coach Arteaga, despite Sunday rainout
J.D. Arteaga’s first series as head coach of the Miami Hurricanes baseball program ended prematurely — but perfectly.
The Hurricanes (3-0) defeated New Jersey Institute of Technology (0-3) dramatically Friday night and decisively in a Saturday doubleheader, but Sunday’s scheduled 1 p.m. finale at Mark Light Field was initially delayed because of rain, then canceled at 1:46 p.m.
No inning could start after 5:10 p.m. Sunday because of the Highlanders’ travel plans to return to
New Jersey.
UM outscored NJIT 43-9 in the three-game series that began Friday night with an 8-7 walk-off win and continued with victories in the Saturday doubleheader — 19-2 in the first game and 16-0 in the night game.
UM used 11 pitchers in the series, eight of them making their Miami debuts. Herick Hernandez, Rafe Schlesinger and Drew Dwyer earned the victories.
Of the 16 Miami players that appeared in the doubleheader, 13 had hits.
Highly touted freshman Daniel Cuvet, who chose UM after being drafted in the 17th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates, had nine hits in 13 at-bats for a teamleading .692 average. Cuvet’s weekend included two doubles, two home runs and seven RBI.
This is the 18th consecutive opening series that the Hurricanes have won. The last time UM lost an opening series was 2007 against Mercer.
Per UM, fans can exchange tickets for another home game except Florida, or request a refund at the box office.
The Canes return to
Mark Light Field on Wednesday for a 5 p.m. first pitch against the UCF Knights, who, like UM, has a first-year coach in Rich Wallace, an Orlando native and former UCF baseball player and assistant coach.
UCF (1-0) defeated
Bryant University 12-11 in the Friday opener, but the second and third games of the series were canceled because of rain.