CORAL GABLES — A combination of newcomers and returning standouts led Miami to a 13-2 Opening Night victory over Lehigh at Mark Light Field on Friday night.
Sophomore starting pitcher AJ Ciscar tossed five innings of one-run ball in the victory, and Miami got big hits from new catcher Alex Sosa and returning designated hitter Max Galvin.
After working a pair of relatively clean innings, Ciscar found himself in trouble in the third inning. Two infield singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for Lehigh with two outs, and Lehigh catcher Owen Walewander drove in the game’s first run on an error by star third baseman Daniel Cuvet. Ciscar got the next batter to fly out to limit the damage.
Miami struck back immediately, though. After Lehigh starter Liam O’Hearen walked the first two batters of the third inning, the Mountain Hawks turned to reliever David Andolina, who promptly surrendered a two-run double to Galvin.
The Hurricanes kept pouring it on. Sosa, a transfer catcher from N.C. State, launched a three-run home run to right-center field to extend UM’s lead to 5-1. Fabio Peralta drove in a run with a single to push UM ahead 6-1.
Although Ciscar got into trouble early in the game, he settled down in his last few frames. He finished his first start of the year with five hits allowed and seven strikeouts over five innings.
After Ciscar came out of the game, Lehigh center fielder Dom Patrizi cut Miami’s lead to four runs with an RBI single against reliever Brixton Logren in the sixth inning.
Miami’s offense burst again in the bottom of the eighth inning. Shortstop Jake Ogden tacked on a run with an RBI triple, and Galvin picked up his third RBI with an infield single that scored Ogden. Sosa drove in his fourth run of the night to make it 9-2. Derek Williams added another RBI single to make it 10-2. Cian Copeland, making his Miami debut, drove in two more runs with a double in his first Hurricane at-bat. Jailen Watkins, making his freshman debut, drove in a run with a single, as well, to make it 13-2.