Miami baseball season ends one out away from advancing in NCAA Tournament

Closer Andrew Walters had his first blown save of the season and the Miami baseball season ended one out away from advancing to the regional final. Walters struck out the first two Arizona batters in the ninth inning before the Wildcats rallied to advance to the Coral Gables regional final on Monday.

Arizona leadoff hitter Nik McClaughery singled to start the rally. McClaughery advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Arizona All-American catcher Daniel Susac was hit by a pitch to put the go-ahead run on base. Tanner O’Tremba doubled on a 1-1 pitch with two outs to give Arizona a 4-3 lead.

Miami tried to rally in the bottom of the ninth. Pinch hitter Ariel Garcia had a pinch-hit single. Garcia moved to second on a wild pitch by Quinn Flanagan. C.J. Kayfus who lead off the game for Miami with a home run, hit a sacrifice fly to move Garcia to third with one out. Gaby Gutierrez struck out pinch-hitting for Edgard Villegas.

Yohandy Morales who hit a two-run HR to put Miami in front 3-1 in the sixth inning was intentionally walked. Maxwell Romero who normally hits behind Morales was taken out earlier for Renzo Gonzalez who pinch ran. Gonzalez grounded out to shortstop on an 0-2 count ending the Miami baseball season.

The loss to Arizona was the second straight heartbreaking loss for Arizona on Sunday. Miami lost to Mississippi in the winners’ bracket game with a spot in the regional final on the line. A two-run Mississippi double in the bottom of the seventh put the Rebels in front to stay. Miami loses an opportunity to host the super regional with a loss.

Miami ends the season 40-20. Arizona improves to 39-24. Mississippi is 34-22. Arizona has to defeat Mississippi twice to reach the super regional. One win for Mississippi advances the Rebels to play SEC rival LSU or in-state rival Southern Miss in the super regional. Southern Miss would host if they advance.