Hurricanes go deep eight times for rout of LIU
The day after a disheartening Saturday-night loss to formerly winless Long Island University, the Miami Hurricanes ignited the burners, fired up the Mark Light Field crowd and mounted an offensive attack that tied a program record en route to a 22-5 victory over the Sharks.
The Canes (5-2), following Saturday night’s not-sosubtle post-game speech from first-year head coach J.D. Arteaga, sent 10 to the plate in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings, tying the UM record (for the fifth time) with four home runs in the third.
In all, UM hit eight home runs, tied for second most in school history — the first time the Canes have achieved that feat since May 23, 1998.
“Baseball is a crazy game,’’ Arteaga said. “We just didn’t produce very well the first couple games and we came out today [with] 23 hits and 22 runs. That’s a big day against anyone. It’s not a video game. It looks like that in the box score. Hitting a baseball is still very difficult to do.
“Our approach was a lot better. We were getting ourselves out the first couple nights with guys trying to do a little bit too much at times. I just got done talking to the team last night. The more we try to hit home runs, the worse we are — any team, really. By simplifying our approach and just driving the ball, we put some great swings on good pitches. They’re listening and adjusting. Now it’s about doing it every night.”
After scoring one run in the first inning and 16 runs over the third, fourth and fifth, Miami led 11-0 and was cruising. All nine starters (and 11 in all) had at least one hit.
Miami had 23 hits. LIU (1-5), which scored four runs in the ninth, had six hits.
What you should know:
Home run parade: The Hurricanes’ eight home runs, including two grand slams, drove in 17 runs by the time UM led 22-1 after seven innings. The home runs, in order, were hit by fifth-year senior Jack Scanlon, freshman Daniel Cuvet, sophomore Jason Torres, junior Gaby Gutierrez, senior Lucas Costello, junior Dorian Gonzalez Jr., Scanlon (again) and redshirt sophomore Lorenzo Carrier.
Cuvet (3 for 3 with 3 RBI), who started at third base, hit his fifth homer in the seventh game of his college career.
“I have as high expectations of myself than anyone could have,’’ said Cuvet, now hitting a team-leading .630. “This is just a byproduct of every expectation I have and the work I put in. That’s the most runs I’ve been part of and the most home runs.’’
Scanlon added: “Yeah, for real. It’s exciting. You see everyone having success. Really cool.’’
Gonzalez’s homer was a grand slam with no outs in the fifth to make it 15-0. Carrier’s was a grand slam in the seventh to make it 21-1.
Other RBI included Cuvet’s double down the left-field line in the first, Gonzalez’s sacrifice fly in the fourth, JD Urso’s fourth-inning single, Scanlon’s bases-loaded walk in the fourth, Seth Surrett’s single in the fifth
Left-handed junior Herick Hernandez (2-0, 0.00 ERA) got the win, allowing five hits and a walk over his six innings. He struck out seven.
After UM plays Florida Gulf Coast at 6 p.m. Wednesday, the Canes meet fourth-ranked Florida for a three-game series next weekend. The UM-UF series begins at 7 p.m. Friday, continues Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
This latest victory, the players agreed, will help buoy the future.
“At bats, our rhythm, seeing the ball is important,’’ Cuvet said. “Timing is what hitters need. Getting these bats in — a lot of at-bats, especially — and recognizing pitches, is really important, regardless of the level of pitching.’’
Said Arteaga: “They’re listening and adjusting. Now it’s about doing it every night.”