Special to CollegeBaseballInsider.com
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The bottom half of the Miami Hurricanes lineup on Sunday – fifth through ninth – produced 12 hits.
But it was the nine-hole hitter, Edgar Michelangeli, who really shined with a career-high seven RBI.
Michelangeli, a redshirt junior third baseman, blasted a three-run homer in the second inning and a grand slam in the seventh to lift Miami to a Super Regional-clinching 9-4 win over the Boston College Eagles on Sunday afternoon at Mark Light Field.
On the grand slam, Boston College players took exception to Michelangeli’s bat flip and the way he rounded the bases with his right hand held high, and a near brawl ensued, although no one was ejected.
“You never want to see the benches clear,” BC coach Mike Gambino said. “You don’t want to see a little scuffle like what just happened.
“What we talk about in our program is character, toughness and class. … I think our boys play hard. I think they play the game the right way. I think they respect the game and their opponents.”
Even so, the Hurricanes (50-12), who are the No. 3 national seed, advanced to the College World Series for the second year in a row by taking the deciding game in the best-of-three series.
Michelangeli had hit just two career home runs until May 26, when he hit a go-ahead, three-run homer against North Carolina State in the ACC Tournament. That was Michelangeli’s first experiment with a dramatic bat flip, and it caused a stir.
With Sunday’s grand slam, Miami coach Jim Morris said he had a great feeling with a six-run lead.
“It was like the kiss of death,” Morris said. “It was over.”
The game might have been virtually decided when the ball cleared the wall in left field, but the hostilities were just beginning.
Just before Michelangeli crossed the plate, he exchanged angry words with BC catcher Nick Sciortino, who took exception to the perceived show-boating.
After Michelangeli scored, he ran to where his team had gathered outside the first-base dugout, where there was some brief pushing and shoving with BC players.
Both teams were warned, but Michelangeli downplayed the scuffle.
“It was too loud – I didn’t really hear what (Sciortino) said,” Michelangeli said. “I was very happy – I had a lot of emotions. I was screaming, ‘Let’s Go!’ That’s it.”
On Sunday, BC fell behind 4-0 in the second inning, thanks primarily to Michelangeli’s three-run homer off freshman starter Jacob Stevens (4-4).
BC cut its deficit to 4-2 in the third on a two-out, two-run single by sophomore right fielder Donovan Casey, who finished with three RBI.
The teams exchanged run-scoring groundouts – Miami in the fourth and BC in the fifth – and that set the stage for the dramatic seventh inning.
With one out, BC reliever Jesse Adams allowed a walk, a bunt hit and an infield single to load the bases. The next batter was Michelangeii, who hit a 3-2 pitch.
“I thought we had them with their backs to the wall – it was a full-count, bases loaded,” Michelangeli said. “I knew they didn’t want to walk me, especially with me being the nine-hole hitter.”
NO HAND SHAKES
Due to the scuffle, NCAA officials decided to not have the hand-shake line after the game.
Morris said that was the first time he could remember the handshake ritual being skipped after the conclusion of a regional.
BREAKTHROUGH YEAR FOR BC
The incident provided a sour end to the season for the Eagles (35-22), who accomplished much in 2016, including making it to a Super Regional for the first time in program history.
BC is also the first team from New England to reach a Super Regional since Connecticut in 2009.
And with Chris Shaw last season and Justin Dunn on Thursday, the Eagles have produced first-round picks in consecutive years for the first time in program history.
In addition, BC won 21 games away from home this season, the most in the ACC.
The Eagles did it mostly with good pitching and defense. BC was fourth in the ACC in ERA and fifth in fielding percentage, which made up for an offense that had only one .300 hitter.
BC had five players drafted this year – just one short of the school record set in 2010. The Eagles also had four players drafted last year, which means that BC is starting to develop consistency as a program.
“I’m proud of this year’s team to develop and get this program to a spot where it has never been,”
Gambino said of the Super Regional. “Now it’s up to next year’s team to continue to get to a level where we want to be. But it’s hard just to get here.”
PITCHING CHANGE
Miami scratched sophomore right-hander Jesse Lepore (9-0, 2.20 ERA). Lepore has been battling shoulder tightness since lasting just three innings in his previous start.
He was replaced by freshman right-hander Andrew Cabezas, who lasted 2 2/3 innings (two runs allowed) and 47 pitches. Cabezas had also thrown 37 pitches in relief on Saturday night for a total of 84 tosses in less than 24 hours.
Morris said he doesn’t know if Lepore will be ready to pitch in the CWS.