Off to Omaha For UM!

Well, they certainly know how to make us sweat. But in the end, amidst the blood, sweat, and tears, the Miami Hurricanes prevailed over a pesky Arizona Wildcats squad that simply refused to hospitably roll out a red carpet for Miami on their way to Omaha, Nebraska for the College World Series. The Hurricanes defeated Arizona 4-2 in the deciding Game 3 of the NCAA super regional Sunday night in Coral Gables. After the scoring-intensive first two games of the series, the third game was a defensive battle by comparison.

UM went up 3-0 in the first, helped in large part by first-round pick Yonder Alonso's two-run homer. In the fourth, the Cats managed a two-out rally which led to two runs in the fourth to make it 4-2. It would be the end of the scoring for the evening. Arizona starter Eric Berger allowed just four runs on six hits and two walks in 7 2/3 innings. Only three of the four runs were earned. Against such an explosive hitting lineup for the Canes, it was an inspired effort by Berger, only to be matched by UM starter Enrique Garcia's two runs (one earned) on seven hits in six innings. UM's bullpen, a question mark heading into this series, took the Canes the rest of the way -Kyle Bellamy, Chris Hernandez, and Carlos Gutierrez held off the Cats to bring the Canes one step closer to their 5th national title.

If you haven't seen highlights of Gutierrez's stop in the 8th and Ryan Jackson's catch-and-throw in the 9th to seal the deal, do so - they are among the best plays made so far in the postseason by any team.