Game 1- Miami 9 Jacksonville U 4

This scorching heat didn’t do anything to slow down Miami’s bats against the JU dolphins during the regional opener. The 1pm start led to a sweat and sunburned filled three hours at Mckethan Stadium yesterday afternoon. Jason Hagerty started the scoring with his first of two homers in the first inning to put the Canes up 1-0. Miami starter Travis Miller cruised through 4 innings scattering 3 hits and was curiously taken out at the top of the fifth inning. Reliever David Gutierrez then pitched two scoreless and got some help from Yasmani Grandal’s 2 RBI double and Chris Hermann’s two run homer. That put the Canes up 6-0 at the start of the seventh. Jim Morris’ second curious pitching decision backfired when Michael Rudman replaced Gutierrez. Rudman and the next pitcher Rene Guerra gave up four runs in the inning and let JU right back in the game. JU wouldn’t score again and Miami would close things out with closer Kyle Bellamy who was dominating as usual. Miami chose not to pitch ace Chris Hernandez and luckily their bats came around to power them past the Dolphins. The decision looked like it might come back to haunt the Canes, but it may work out as Miami now has their ace for game 2 today.

Game 2- Florida 8 Bethune-Cookman 7

In the nightcap, a good crowd at the Mac saw the Gators hold off a dangerous Bethune-Cookman team. The weather was much nicer for the 6:30 pm first pitch, the sun was behind the stands and a light breeze cooled things off. The Wildcats gave the Gators all they could handle and looked to be the better team for most of the game. Starter Hiram Burgos was filthy as he pitched the first four innings without giving up a run to the #1 seeded Gators. He had four plus pitches, with a sinker that was almost unhittable. He slowed down during the seventh inning as his pitch counted ended up at 136. He did all he could to give Bethune a chance and he left with the Wildcats leading it 4-3. However the Bethune-Cookman relievers could not live up to Burgos’s standard. Bethune-Cookman managed three more runs, but the Gators proved too much in the ninth inning. Down 7-5, the Gators got Preston Tucker on with a single and Josh Adams walked. Then Matt Den Dekker singled to right to drive in Tucker and advance Admas to third. Pinch hitter Jericho Weitzel then grounded out to the pitcher for the first and only out of the inning. The Wildcats intentionally walked Daniel Piggot to load the bases and try for the double play, bringing up big Teddy Foster. Foster would rope a 3-1 fastball to right to drive in Den Dekker and Adams to win the ballgame.

This Bethune-Cookman team is for real. They have speedy guys on the ends of their lineup, power hitters in the middle, and two dominant starters. They are clearly the most complete #4 seed in the NCAA tourney this year. Look for them to beat JU and take on the loser of the UM-UF showdown tomorrow night.

At 1pm, Bethune-Cookman and Jacksonville face-off and at 6:30 pm Stephen Locke will likely start for the Gators against the Hurricanes ace Chris Hernandez. 

Ben Petitto is a columnist for GatorTailgating.com