The Miami baseball team won its third straight series this weekend and improved to 4-2 in the ACC after winning two out of three games versus North Carolina at Mark Light Field. Miami improved to 11-8 overall with the series win. The Hurricanes won 14-1 on Friday night and 2-1 on Saturday before an 18-6 loss on Sunday.
Miami should move up the RPI significantly after winning two out of three versus North Carolina this weekend. The Hurricanes were 154th in the RPI entering the weekend. North Carolina was fourth in the RPI through games played on Thursday. Miami and North Carolina are tied for third place in the ACC Coastal at 4-2.
Georgia Tech leads the ACC Coastal Division with a 3-0 record and Virginia Tech in second place at 5-1. Florida State leads the ACC with a 3-0 record. The Seminoles are 18-0 overall. Clemson is second in the Atlantic Division with a 2-1 record. The Tigers are 17-2 overall this season.
Miami's beginning ACC play with series wins over North Carolina and Virginia has been impressive. Notre Dame will host Miami next weekend. The trip to South Bend is the first road series for Miami this season. Miami lost 6-4 at Florida Atlantic in its only road game of the season last Tuesday.
Another weekend, another top-15 series win 🙌
— Miami Hurricanes Baseball (@CanesBaseball) March 17, 2024
Only the beginning for this team! pic.twitter.com/KEJ9CiUPRj
A seven-inning complete game by Gage Ziehl and an offensive onslaught led Miami to 14-1 win on Friday night. Ziehl allowed five hits, one earned run, with two walks and six strikeouts in setting the tone to end an 11-game North Carolina winning streak on Friday night. Six Hurricanes finished with two hits.
Miami outlasted North Carolina in a pitchers dual on Saturday night. Rafe Schlesinger gave Miami their second straight outstanding start. In seven innings, Schlesinger allowed five hits, one run, one earned, with two walks and five strikeouts. Jason Torres and Dorian Gonzalez's home runs allowed Miami to rally for a 2-1, walkoff win.
North Carolina broke open a one-run game with 13 runs in the final three innings to flip getting run-ruled on Friday night. The Tar Heels led 5-4 after four innings before burying the Hurricanes with a 13-2 run over the final three innings to win 18-6. The top of the North Carolina batting order went 7-12 with four runs scored and nine RBIs on Sunday.
Eight different Hurricanes had one hit each on Sunday. Miami will host FIU on Tuesday night before the previously mentioned first road trip of the season at Notre Dame from Friday through Sunday. Notre Dame matches the 11-8 Miami record this season. The Fighting Irish have started ACC play 0-6.